Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands

Globally, peatlands play an important role in the carbon (C) cycle. High water level is a key factor in maintaining C storage in peatlands, but water levels are vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. This review examines literature related to the effects of water level alteratio...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Yehui Zhong, Ming Jiang, Beth A. Middleton
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Taylor & Francis Group 2020
Materias:	peatlands carbon cycling climate change anthropogenic disturbance water level Ecology QH540-549.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/e88a34caad7d47c2a5985254c7556dc9
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:e88a34caad7d47c2a5985254c7556dc9
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:e88a34caad7d47c2a5985254c7556dc92021-12-02T17:55:40ZEffects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands2332-887810.1080/20964129.2020.1806113https://doaj.org/article/e88a34caad7d47c2a5985254c7556dc92020-12-01T00:00:00Zhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2020.1806113https://doaj.org/toc/2332-8878Globally, peatlands play an important role in the carbon (C) cycle. High water level is a key factor in maintaining C storage in peatlands, but water levels are vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. This review examines literature related to the effects of water level alteration on C cycling in peatlands to summarize new ideas and uncertainties emerging in this field. Peatland ecosystems maintain their function by altering plant community structure to adapt to changing water levels. Regarding primary production, woody plants are more productive in unflooded, well-aerated conditions, while Sphagnum mosses are more productive in wetter conditions. The responses of sedges to water level alteration are species-specific. While peat decomposition is faster in unflooded, well aerated conditions, increased plant production may counteract the C loss induced by increased ecosystem respiration (ER) for a period of time. In contrast, rising water table maintains anaerobic conditions and enhances the role of the peatland as a C sink. Nevertheless, changes in DOC flux during water level fluctuation is complicated and depends on the interactions of flooding with environment. Notably, vegetation also plays a role in C flux but particular species vary in their ability to sequester and transport C. Bog ecosystems have a greater resilience to water level alteration than fens, due to differences in biogeochemical responses to hydrology. The full understanding of the role of peatlands in global C cycling deserves much more study due to uncertainties of vegetation feedbacks, peat–water interactions, microbial mediation of vegetation, wildfire, and functional responses after hydrologic restoration.Yehui ZhongMing JiangBeth A. MiddletonTaylor & Francis Grouparticlepeatlandscarbon cyclingclimate changeanthropogenic disturbancewater levelEcologyQH540-549.5ENEcosystem Health and Sustainability, Vol 6, Iss 1 (2020)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	peatlands carbon cycling climate change anthropogenic disturbance water level Ecology QH540-549.5
spellingShingle	peatlands carbon cycling climate change anthropogenic disturbance water level Ecology QH540-549.5 Yehui Zhong Ming Jiang Beth A. Middleton Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands
description	Globally, peatlands play an important role in the carbon (C) cycle. High water level is a key factor in maintaining C storage in peatlands, but water levels are vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. This review examines literature related to the effects of water level alteration on C cycling in peatlands to summarize new ideas and uncertainties emerging in this field. Peatland ecosystems maintain their function by altering plant community structure to adapt to changing water levels. Regarding primary production, woody plants are more productive in unflooded, well-aerated conditions, while Sphagnum mosses are more productive in wetter conditions. The responses of sedges to water level alteration are species-specific. While peat decomposition is faster in unflooded, well aerated conditions, increased plant production may counteract the C loss induced by increased ecosystem respiration (ER) for a period of time. In contrast, rising water table maintains anaerobic conditions and enhances the role of the peatland as a C sink. Nevertheless, changes in DOC flux during water level fluctuation is complicated and depends on the interactions of flooding with environment. Notably, vegetation also plays a role in C flux but particular species vary in their ability to sequester and transport C. Bog ecosystems have a greater resilience to water level alteration than fens, due to differences in biogeochemical responses to hydrology. The full understanding of the role of peatlands in global C cycling deserves much more study due to uncertainties of vegetation feedbacks, peat–water interactions, microbial mediation of vegetation, wildfire, and functional responses after hydrologic restoration.
format	article
author	Yehui Zhong Ming Jiang Beth A. Middleton
author_facet	Yehui Zhong Ming Jiang Beth A. Middleton
author_sort	Yehui Zhong
title	Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands
title_short	Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands
title_full	Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands
title_fullStr	Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands
title_full_unstemmed	Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands
title_sort	effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands
publisher	Taylor & Francis Group
publishDate	2020
url	https://doaj.org/article/e88a34caad7d47c2a5985254c7556dc9
work_keys_str_mv	AT yehuizhong effectsofwaterlevelalterationoncarboncyclinginpeatlands AT mingjiang effectsofwaterlevelalterationoncarboncyclinginpeatlands AT bethamiddleton effectsofwaterlevelalterationoncarboncyclinginpeatlands
_version_	1718379141885067264

Effects of water level alteration on carbon cycling in peatlands

Ejemplares similares