The role of root traits in permafrost peatland methane cycling
Universität Zürich
Lay summary
High-latitude wetlands are significant methane (CH4) sources and CH4 is one of the most effective greenhouse gases contributing to climate warming. Peatlands in the discontinuous permafrost zone contain vast amounts of soil organic carbon. The climate warming-induced permafrost thaw has led to the degradation of these peatlands, and previously frozen soil organic matter is now subjected to microbial decomposition. Following various environmental and plant composition gradients, some of the decomposition processes will lead to increased CH4 emissions which can further strengthen positive climate warming feedbacks. Therefore, in the context of rapid climate warming, it is essential to investigate the changes in the variables controlling CH4 emissions in a changing permafrost landscape. One of the most understudied variables include plant belowground traits, despite them significantly contributing to ecosystem carbon stocks.
The goal of this study is to examine the role of plant root traits on CH4 emissions in a thawing subarctic peatland and improve our process-level understanding of CH4 cycling in peatland ecosystems. The study will help improve wetland CH4 budget estimates and greenhouse gas emission models for high-latitude regions. The field trip will produce unique data for estimating the effects of changing plant belowground traits on CH4 emissions in a thawing landscape and, to our knowledge, is one of the first attempts to unravel the relationships between below- and aboveground plant traits and CH4 emissions.
Details
| Regional focus | Arctic |
| Location | Stordalen mire, Abisko, Sweden |
| Funded amount | 10,475 CHF |
| Project dates | 17th July 2023 – 31st August 2023 |
| Category | Polar Access Fund |