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Effects of semi-lunar tidal cycling on soil CO2 and CH4 emissions: a case study in the Yangtze River estuary, China

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Abstract

Coastal wetlands, commonly inundated by periodic tides, have been recognized as important sources of greenhouse gases. However, little is known of tidal effects on in situ soil CO2 and CH4 emissions in a semi-lunar tidal cycle consisting of neap and spring tide periods (NTP and STP). A field study was conducted in the Yangtze River estuary to investigate temporal variations of soil CO2 and CH4 emissions along with the transition from NTP to STP in a semi-lunar tidal cycle. Soil moisture, salinity and sulfate were significantly greater in STP than in NTP, whereas soil redox potential had an opposite pattern because of frequent tidal inundation. Soil CO2 and CH4 effluxes decreased significantly in STP, being 29–34 and 28–35 %, respectively, compared with those in NTP. The decrease in soil CO2 effluxes was likely attributable to two causes, an anaerobic environment inhibiting CO2 production, and tidal inundation impeding CO2 diffusion from the soil into the atmosphere. The inhibition of methanogenesis by increased soil salinity and sulfate was likely the primary reason of the decrease in CH4 effluxes during STP. Our results suggest that the effects of semi-lunar tidal cycling significantly reduce soil carbon emissions, which may be one of the potential mechanisms underlying strong carbon accumulation in wetlands of the Yangtze River estuary.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2013CB430404), “12th Five-Year” national science and technology support program (No. 2011BA11B06), National Science Foundation of China (31170450) and Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan (3JC1400400). Water Resource Science and Technology of Jiangsu province (2014056).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, Low-carbon Energy Research Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, 1 Daxue Road, Xuzhou, 221008, China

    Nai-Shun Bu, Jun-Feng Qu, Hua Zhao, Qing-Wu Yan & Gang Li

  2. Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, The Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Nai-Shun Bu, Bin Zhao & Chang-Ming Fang

  3. Xuzhou Institute of Water Resource, Xuzhou, 221018, China

    Jing-Lan Fan

  4. School of Life Science, Fudan University, 2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai, 200438, China

    Chang-Ming Fang

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  1. Nai-Shun Bu
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  2. Jun-Feng Qu
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  3. Hua Zhao
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  4. Qing-Wu Yan
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Correspondence to Chang-Ming Fang or Gang Li.

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Bu, NS., Qu, JF., Zhao, H. et al. Effects of semi-lunar tidal cycling on soil CO2 and CH4 emissions: a case study in the Yangtze River estuary, China. Wetlands Ecol Manage 23, 727–736 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-015-9415-5

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