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Effect of plant functional type on methane dynamics in a restored minerotrophic peatland

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Peatland methane (CH4) fluxes may vary between plant types; however, in mixed communities, the specific role of each species is difficult to distinguish. The goal of this study was to determine the individual and interacting effect of moss, graminoid and shrub plant functional types on CH4 dynamics of experimentally planted plots in a rewetted minerotrophic peatland.

Methods

We measured CH4 flux, pore water CH4 concentration and CH4 production and oxidation potential in pure stands of reintroduced Tomenthypnum nitens (Hedw.) Loeske, Carex aquatilis Wahlenb, or Myrica gale L., as well as mixtures of T. nitens + C. aquatilis and T. nitens + M. gale. Methane flux was also measured on bare peat plots.

Results

The presence of both the graminoid C. aquatilis and the shrub M. gale resulted in the highest CH4 production potential in near surface peat (10 cm). The presence of moss (T. nitens) and C. aquatilis significantly increased CH4 oxidation potential. Water table position was a significant control on CH4 flux, but the presence of C. aquatilis maintained higher flux even at dry plots. Plots including C. aquatilis had significantly lower pore water CH4 concentration at 30 cm depth, likely reflecting CH4 oxidation and transport.

Conclusions

Management of restored sites aiming to reduce CH4 flux should focus on hydrology, i.e. water table position. The presence of graminoids enhances CH4 flux, while moss presence may result in lower CH4 emission.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the Industrial Research Chair in Peatland Management to LR funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) supported by the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association and its members. Dr. Martin Brummell and two anonymous reviewers provided useful comments on the manuscript. We are grateful for field assistance provided by Elena Farries, Sarah Scarlett, Magnus Keith, Marie-Eve Gauthier and Torben Russo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Maria Strack, Kisa Mwakanyamale, Golnoush Hassanpour Fard & Melanie Bird

  2. Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Maria Strack

  3. Illinois State Geological Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA

    Kisa Mwakanyamale

  4. NAIT Boreal Research Institute, Peace River, Canada

    Melanie Bird

  5. Department of Plant Sciences and Peatland Ecology Research Group, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    Vicky Bérubé & Line Rochefort

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  1. Maria Strack
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  2. Kisa Mwakanyamale
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Correspondence to Maria Strack.

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Strack, M., Mwakanyamale, K., Hassanpour Fard, G. et al. Effect of plant functional type on methane dynamics in a restored minerotrophic peatland. Plant Soil 410, 231–246 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2999-6

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