Environmental Controls on CO2 Exchange along a Salinity Gradient in a Saline Boreal Fen in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region

Volik, Olena; Petrone, Richard M.; Quanz, Meaghan; Macrae, Merrin L.; Rooney, Rebecca C.; Price, Jonathan S.

doi:10.1007/s13157-019-01257-5

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 77 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Moreover, previous studies (Volik et al, 2019, 2021) reported reduced vegetative biomass, low GEP and decreased long‐term carbon accumulation rates under highly saline conditions. A significant decline in WUE at Saline was observed in July 2018 that can be attributed to decreased GEP (Figures 3 and 4) under very wet and cool conditions that resulted in shallow WT that coincides with the extremely negative effect of prolonged inundation, coupled with high salinity on plant productivity at Saline (Volik et al, 2019, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Such low rates were anticipated as increased salinity has a negative effect on photosynthetic rates and plant biomass production (Sperling et al, 2014;Sutter et al, 2014) and modification of water flow in salt-tolerant plants in order to mitigate salt stress is associated with higher energy demand (Sanders & Robinson, 1997;Munns, 2005;Parida & Das, 2005;Phillips et al, 2016). Moreover, previous studies (Volik et al, 2019(Volik et al, , 2021 reported reduced vegetative biomass, low GEP and decreased long-term carbon accumulation rates under highly saline conditions. A significant decline in WUE at Saline was observed in July 2018 that can be attributed to decreased GEP (Figures 3 and 4) under very wet and cool conditions that resulted in shallow WT that coincides with the extremely negative effect of prolonged inundation, coupled with high salinity on plant productivity at Saline (Volik et al, 2019(Volik et al, , 2021.…”

Section: Relations Between Wue and Environmental Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on our previous findings of links between ET and thermal regime in the studied fens (Volik, Kessel, et al, 2020), we hypothesized that WUE is strongly related to net radiation (Qnet) and interannual WUE variability results from the interaction among thermal and moisture conditions. Since elevated electrical conductivity has a negative effect on plant productivity (Volik et al, 2018, 2019, 2021) and ET (Phillips et al, 2016; Volik, Kessel, et al, 2020), we hypothesized that WUE was significantly lower at a saline fen compared to freshwater fens. In addition, natural disturbances (i.e., wildfire) could affect WUE as a negative effect of wildfire on ET was observed (Volik, Kessel, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Understanding the peak growing season ecosystem water‐use efficiency at four boreal fens in the Athabasca oil sands region

Volik

Petrone

Kessel

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ecosystem water-use efficiency (WUE), a ratio between gross ecosystem production (GEP) and water loss through evapotranspiration (ET) can be helpful for the assessment of coupled peatland carbon and water cycles under anthropogenic changes in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) where extensive oil sands development has been occurring since the 1960's. As such, this study assessed multiyear peak growing season variability of WUE at four fens (poor treed, poor open, treed moderate-rich, open saline) near Fort McMurray using the eddy covariance technique combined with a set of environmental variables. Freshwater fens were characterized by WUE values within the range reported from other boreal wetlands while a saline fen had significantly lower values of WUE. Negative correlation (R s < À0.55, p < 0.05)between WUE and net radiation was observed. Moisture conditions were responsible for interannual differences in WUE, whereby increasing WUE under wetter conditions was observed. However, such a pattern was offset by decreased air temperature (T air ) resulting in moisture oversupply. This study also revealed a negative effect of wildfire on WUE due to a prominent decline in GEP and a moderate decrease in ET. WUE can be useful for monitoring the functioning of natural and constructed fens, but a better understanding of WUE variability under a wide range of climatic conditions with respect to differences in vegetation is required.

show abstract