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Minor long-term effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on methane dynamics of a subarctic fen in Northern Finland

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Abstract

The effects of elevated ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on methane dynamics was studied in a natural fen in Northern Finland for three growing seasons (2003–2005). This is the first in situ study on the effects of elevated UV-B radiation on methane dynamics in a natural fen. The experimental setup consisted of 30 study plots (120 × 120 cm) that were randomly divided into three treatments: ambient control, UV-A control and elevated UV-B. The UV-B enhancements were 63, 37 and 21% above ambient during the growing seasons 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Elevated UV-B did not affect net methane emission. Stable isotope composition of methane indicated that methane was produced by the acetate fermentation. Under elevated UV-B there was a slight increase in the concentrations of acetate and propionate but decrease in the oxalate concentration suggesting UV-B-induced changes in the belowground processes. The results emphasize the need for long-term field studies under moderately enhanced exposures to estimate whether the function and feedbacks of mire ecosystems change under increased UV-B radiation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland (projects 200884 and 200888), the Environmental Risk Assessment Centre–ERAC and the Graduate School in Forest Sciences. We are grateful to the staff of the Arctic Research Centre of the Finnish Meteorological Institute for maintaining the exposure field throughout the study and for the environmental data. We would like to thank Merja Mustonen, Saara Patronen and Tuulia Venäläinen for their assistance with fieldwork, Nina Kontinaho for conducting the stable isotope incubation experiment in the laboratory and Hannu Koponen for technical assistance with the stable isotope analysis. The English language was revised by James Blande.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Sami K. Mörsky, Toini Holopainen & Pertti J. Martikainen

  2. Department of Biology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu Campus, PO Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Jaana K. Haapala & Jouko Silvola

  3. Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2D, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Riikka Rinnan

  4. Finnish Environment Institute & Ecological Research Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu Campus, PO Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Sanna Saarnio

  5. Finnish Meteorological Institute, Sodankylä, Tähteläntie 62, 99600, Sodankylä, Finland

    Hanne Suokanerva & Esko Kyrö

  6. Thule Institute, University of Oulu, PO Box 7300, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Kirsi Latola

Authors
  1. Sami K. Mörsky
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  2. Jaana K. Haapala
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  3. Riikka Rinnan
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  4. Sanna Saarnio
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  5. Hanne Suokanerva
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  6. Kirsi Latola
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  7. Esko Kyrö
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  8. Jouko Silvola
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  9. Toini Holopainen
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  10. Pertti J. Martikainen
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Correspondence to Sami K. Mörsky.

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Mörsky, S.K., Haapala, J.K., Rinnan, R. et al. Minor long-term effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on methane dynamics of a subarctic fen in Northern Finland. Biogeochemistry 108, 233–243 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-011-9593-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-011-9593-z

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