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- Title
Comparison of plant litter and peat decomposition changes with permafrost thaw in a subarctic peatland.
- Authors
Wang, Zheng; Roulet, Nigel
- Abstract
Background and aims: Organic matter decomposition in response to thawing permafrost has critical implications for carbon release. This study examined how thaw induced plant community and environmental changes influenced litter and peat decomposition in a subarctic peatland. Methods: We conducted laboratory incubations under current site pre-thaw (dry and large oxic peat layer) and thawed (wet and small oxic peat layer) conditions, and mimiced pond thaw conditions (water saturated and anoxic) at 4 and 22 °C. Carbon dioxide (CO) and methane (CH) releases from ground surface plant litter and top 1 m peat samples at permafrost area (Palsa) and wet thawed lawn (WL) were quantified under current site conditions. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released from litter was additionally quantified under pond thaw conditions. Results: Plant litter mass significantly increased from Palsa to WL. Under current site conditions, litter in WL had significantly higher CO and CH production rates than litter in Palsa. Pond thaw conditions changed litter carbon loss partitioning into lower CO but higher DOC and CH production, and increased total carbon release. Whole peat decomposition was restricted from Palsa to WL with thaw. Estimated growing season gas carbon loss (CO and CH) in WL was greater than that in Palsa due to significantly increased litter carbon loss after thaw. Conclusions: Changes in organic matter decomposition, especially litter decomposition, enlarged carbon losses from this subarctic peatland with permafrost thaw.
- Subjects
BIODEGRADATION of plant litter; PEAT; PERMAFROST; PLANT communities; CARBON compounds
- Publication
Plant & Soil, 2017, Vol 417, Issue 1/2, p197
- ISSN
0032-079X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11104-017-3252-7