Interactions and Covariation of Ecological Drivers Control CO2 Fluxes in an Alpine Peatland

Abstract

Peatland ecosystems are a highly effective long-term carbon sink. However, the CO2 fluxes could be substantially altered by climate changes and the fate of carbon stored in these ecosystems is still uncertain. Currently, most studies concerning the carbon fluxes in peatlands were performed at high latitude sites, where these ecosystems are more widely distributed compared to temperate regions, where peatlands are less frequent and, in addition to climate pressure, increasingly threatened by human activities. However, the information we have on these peatlands is very scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied CO2 fluxes in an alpine peatland, through light and dark incubations. Using the natural variation in ecological conditions, we identified the main drivers of CO2 fluxes, considering in particular their interactions and covariation. Ecosystem respiration and gross primary production were primarily stimulated by the lowering of the water table and the amount of photosynthetic radiation, respectively, whereas net ecosystem CO2 exchange showed greater variation along the growing season. The influence on CO2 fluxes of the interactions between the drivers investigated, including soil temperature and moisture as well as vegetation type and plant functional diversity, was found to be of pivotal importance. Finally, a substantial part of the variation in CO2 emission and uptake processes was regulated by the joint variation of atmospheric and edaphic factors. To understand and predict the CO2 dynamics of alpine peatlands, it is necessary to consider the interplays among ecological factors, especially in relation to the expected changes in climate and vegetation.

Engaging Young People in the Development of Innovative Nature-Inspired Technologies for Carbon Sequestration in Cities: Case Studies from Portugal

“…Like living organisms, these devices are "sensitive" to environmental conditions and interpret and adjust to them, operating in a homeostatic way. The theoretical assumption is that biodevices can sequester carbon and remove atmospheric pollutants with greater efficiency than urban vegetation, thanks to the forced circulation of atmospheric air through plant tissues of native species selected for their morphophysiological and physiological characteristics [24,64]. They are supported by vascular and avascular plants (shrubs and mosses) and "transparent technology", which is highly efficient in accelerating vegetal physiology to remove mainly CO 2 , NOx, O 3 , SO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 .…”

Effects of Microtopography on Soil Microbial Community Structure and Abundance in Permafrost Peatlands

“…An interdependent relationship exists between permafrost and peatlands, whereby cryogenic permafrost conditions protect peat carbon from decomposition and prevent CO 2 release into the atmosphere [5]. However, in the past 30 years, the increase in local temperatures of high-latitude permafrost regions was twice that of the global average, resulting in rapid permafrost thawing, which is a severe threat to peatland carbon stability [6,7]. Permafrost degradation not only significantly impacts the function of peatland ecosystems, leading to changes in hydrology, topography, vegetation composition, and biogeochemical cycling, but some of these changes also have the potential to induce substantial positive feedback within the climate system, which intensifies global warming even more [8].…”