Effects of peatland management on aquatic carbon concentrations and fluxes
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Published:2022-03-04
Issue:5
Volume:19
Page:1321-1334
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ISSN:1726-4189
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Container-title:Biogeosciences
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Biogeosciences
Author:
Pickard Amy E.ORCID, Branagan Marcella, Billett Mike F., Andersen RoxaneORCID, Dinsmore Kerry J.
Abstract
Abstract. Direct land-to-atmosphere carbon exchange has been the primary focus in
previous studies of peatland disturbance and subsequent restoration.
However, loss of carbon via the fluvial pathway is a significant term in
peatland carbon budgets and requires consideration to assess the overall
impact of restoration measures. This study aimed to determine the effect of
peatland land management regime on aquatic carbon concentrations and fluxes
in an area within the UK's largest tract of blanket bog, the Flow Country of
northern Scotland. Three sub-catchments were selected to represent peatland land
management types: non-drained, drained, and restoration (achieved through
drain blocking and tree removal). Water samples were collected on a
fortnightly basis from September 2008 to August 2010 at six sampling sites,
one located upstream and one downstream within each sub-catchment.
Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were significantly lower for the upstream non-drained
sub-catchment compared to the drained sub-catchments, and there was
considerable variation in the speciation of aquatic carbon (DOC, particulate organic carbon (POC),
CO2, and CH4) across the monitoring sites, with dissolved gas
concentrations inversely correlated with catchment area and thereby
contributing considerably more to total aquatic carbon in the smaller
headwater catchments. Significantly higher POC concentrations were observed
in the restored sub-catchment most affected by tree removal. Aquatic carbon
fluxes were highest from the drained catchments and lowest from the
non-drained catchments at 23.5 and 7.9 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively,
with variability between the upstream and downstream sites within each
catchment being very low. It is clear from both the aquatic carbon concentration
and flux data that drainage has had a profound impact on the hydrological
and biogeochemical functioning of the peatland. In the restoration
catchment, carbon export varied considerably, from 21.1 g C m−2 yr−1 at the upper site to 10.0 g C m−2 yr−1 at the lower
site, largely due to differences in runoff generation. As a result of this
hydrological variability, it is difficult to make definitive conclusions
about the impact of restoration on carbon fluxes, and further monitoring is
needed to corroborate the longer-term effects.
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Earth-Surface Processes,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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