Methane fluxes, concentrations, and production in two Adirondack beaver impoundments

Yavitt, Joseph B.; Angell, Lisa L.; Fahey, Timothy J.; Cirmo, Christopher P.; Driscoll, Charles T.

doi:10.4319/lo.1992.37.5.1057

Cited by 38 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…), whereas in another study, the fluxes in a pond older than 30 years were similar to those in a 3‐year‐old pond, that is 138 and 162 mg CH 4 m −2 day −1 , respectively (Yavitt et al. ).…”

Section: Short‐term Carbon Emissions From Beaver Pondsmentioning

confidence: 81%

Beavers affect carbon biogeochemistry: both short‐term and long‐term processes are involved

et al. 2018

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With the recent population increase in beavers (Castor spp.), a considerable amount of new riparian habitat has been created in the Holarctic. We evaluated how beaver‐induced floods affect carbon (C) dynamics in the beaver ponds and in the water‐atmosphere and riparian zone interfaces. Beaver disturbance affects soil organic C storage by decreasing or increasing it, resulting in a redistribution of C. Upon flooding, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increases in the water. This C can be released into the atmosphere, it can settle down to the bottom sediments, it can be sequestered by vegetation, or it can be transported downstream. The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions vary between 0.14 and 11.2 g CO2 m−2 day−1, averaging 4.9 CO2 g m−2 day−1. The methane (CH4) emissions vary too, from 27 mg m−2 day−1 to 919 mg m−2 day−1, averaging 222 mg CH4 m−2 day−1. Globally, C emission from beaver ponds in the form of CH4 and CO2 may be 3.33–4.62 Tg (teragram, 1012 g) year−1. The yearly short‐term sedimentation rates in beaver ponds vary between 0.4 and 47 cm year−1, and individual ponds contain 9–6355 m3 of sediment. The approximate global estimate for yearly C sedimentation is 3.8 Tg C; beaver ponds globally contain 380 Tg sedimented C. After being formed, beaver pond deposits can remain for millennia. Both C sequestration and CO2 and CH4 emissions in ponds of various ages should be taken into account when considering the net effect of beavers on the C dynamics. With present estimates, beaver ponds globally range from a sink (−0.47 Tg year−1) to a source (0.82 Tg year−1) of C. More research is needed with continuous flux measurements and from ponds of different ages. Likewise, there is a need for more studies in Eurasia to understand the effect of beaver on C biogeochemistry.

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Section: Short‐term Carbon Emissions From Beaver Pondsmentioning

confidence: 81%

Beavers affect carbon biogeochemistry: both short‐term and long‐term processes are involved

et al. 2018

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“…One likely reason for higher methane emission rates from beaver ponds is the large input of high-quality organic material by beaver activity [Francis et at., 1985], which fuels overall methane production rates in the pond sediments. The organic matter content at Beaver Pond Harp 4 is fairly high, with an average value of 32% for the top 20 cm of the sediments, and organic matter contents of more than 85% have been reported in the literature [Yavitt et at., 1992]. It is possible that some of the observed spatial variability within wetland systems could be explained by differences in the organic matter content of the sediments which, for example, ranges from 7.7% to 57.5% at Beaver Pond Harp 4 [Weyhenmeyer, 1992].…”

Section: Yavitt Et Al [1990] Reported Average Methane Emission Ratmentioning

confidence: 95%

Methane emissions from beaver ponds: Rates, patterns, and transport mechanisms

Weyhenmeyer¹

1999

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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Abstract. Net methane fluxes as well as methane fluxes via gas bubbles and via molecular diffusion were measured separately at nine different sampling sites throughout a beaver pond located in the low boreal forest region of central Ontario, Canada. In 1990, the average daily methane emission rate was 37.2 _+ 30.4 mg CI•I_24 rn -2 d -•, yielding a total annual methane effiux of 5.8 g CI-h m -2 of which 1.1 g CH4 m were produced in the wintertime when the pond was ice covered. On average, 65% of the net methane flux was released via gas bubble emission, the remaining 35% via molecular diffusion. Gas bubble flux rates were highly variable in space and time, suggesting that low sampling frequencies, common in many methane emission studies, could introduce large uncertainties to the estimated annual flux rates for different wetland systems. The effects of changes in environmental variables on methane emissions were found to be strongly dependent on which transport mechanism dominated the release of methane from the sediments. While the gas bubble flux volume was mainly affected by changes in atmospheric pressure and sediment temperatures, the diffusive flux component was found to be more sensitive to changes in the pond water level. Overall, magnitudes of methane fluxes from this pond were similar to other beaver ponds and moderate to high when compared to other wetland types in the low boreal forest region.

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“…The lower limit emission flux of CH 4 at the water-air interface is 0.1 mg m '2 d '1 [Yavitt et al, 1992;Scranton et al, 1993]. The fluxes were measured using static chambers.…”

Section: Direct Measurement Of Ch 4 and Cog Emissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Production of the greenhouse gases CH₄ and CO₂ by hydroelectric reservoirs of the boreal region

Duchemin¹,

Lucotte²,

Canuel³

et al. 1995

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

159

120

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The emission fluxes and the distribution of dissolved methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were determined for 11 sampling stations in two hydroelectric reservoirs (flooded since 1978 and 1993) located in the James Bay territory of northern Québec. The measured benthic fluxes for the two greenhouse gases were found to be either higher or similar to those determined at the water‐air interface during the ice‐free sampling periods. For the 2 year duration of the study, emission fluxes of CH4 to the atmosphere generally varied between 5 and 10 mg m−2 d−1, while those for CO2 ranged from 500 to 1100 mg m−2 d−1. Furthermore, through the use of static chambers at the water‐air interface, we determined that the emission fluxes for the gases are controlled by molecular diffusion. Our calculated fluxes have been separated into two groups: (1) regular emission fluxes and (2) above‐average emission fluxes. The first type comprises the majority of fluxes measured during the sampling periods (i.e., 88% for CH4 and 87% for CO2). The second group reflects unusual sampling conditions (e.g., strong winds, water column depths of less than 1 m, or flooded peatland mats floating at the surface). Although data for this group are limited, our preliminary results suggest that they may be an important component in an atmospheric emissions budget for large reservoirs. Concentration profiles for CH4 and CO2 dissolved in the water column clearly show that oxidation and/or horizontal advection of these gases are controlling factors in their subsequent release to the atmosphere. Most of the CH4 is oxidized within the first 25 cm above the flooded soil‐water interface. Consequently, neither benthic emissions of CH4 and CO2 nor the type of flooded soil appear to control atmospheric emissions of these gases from hydroelectric reservoirs.

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Methane fluxes, concentrations, and production in two Adirondack beaver impoundments

Cited by 38 publications

References 18 publications

Beavers affect carbon biogeochemistry: both short‐term and long‐term processes are involved

Beavers affect carbon biogeochemistry: both short‐term and long‐term processes are involved

Methane emissions from beaver ponds: Rates, patterns, and transport mechanisms

Production of the greenhouse gases CH₄ and CO₂ by hydroelectric reservoirs of the boreal region

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Methane fluxes, concentrations, and production in two Adirondack beaver impoundments

Cited by 38 publications

References 18 publications

Beavers affect carbon biogeochemistry: both short‐term and long‐term processes are involved

Beavers affect carbon biogeochemistry: both short‐term and long‐term processes are involved

Methane emissions from beaver ponds: Rates, patterns, and transport mechanisms

Production of the greenhouse gases CH4 and CO2 by hydroelectric reservoirs of the boreal region

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Production of the greenhouse gases CH₄ and CO₂ by hydroelectric reservoirs of the boreal region