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The effect of water table levels and short-term ditch restoration on mountain peatland carbon cycling in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Wetlands Ecology and Management volume 28, pages 51–69 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Many tropical mountain peatlands in the Andes are formed by cushion plants. These unique cushion plant peatlands are intensively utilized for grazing and are also influenced by climate change, both of which alter hydrologic conditions. Little is known about the natural hydroperiods and greenhouse gas fluxes of these peatlands or the consequences of hydrologic alteration for these fluxes. Therefore, our objectives were to assess how carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes varied across a hydrological gradient caused by ditching and evaluate how short-term carbon cycling responds after rewetting from ditch blocking in a tropical mountain peatland. The study was carried out in Huascarán National Park, Peru using static chamber methods. Comparing reference to highly drained conditions, mid-day net ecosystem exchange (NEE) was higher (1.07 ± 0.06 vs. 0.76 ± 0.11 g CO2 m−2 h−1), and the light compensation point for CO2 uptake was lower. Gas fluxes were relatively stable in the rewetted and reference treatments, with small positive responses of NEE to rising water tables. CH4 emissions averaged 2.76 ± 1.06 mg CH4 m−2 day−1, with negative fluxes at water tables >10 cm below the soil surface, and positive fluxes at higher water levels. Our results indicate that undrained peatlands appear to be carbon sinks, highly drained peatlands were likely carbon sources, and rewetting of moderately drained peatlands increased NEE and the ability to store carbon to undrained reference conditions. Ditching of peatlands will likely increase their susceptibility to negative climate change impacts, and hydrologic restoration could moderate these impacts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP) and SilvaCarbon program. We thank the staff at the Huascarán National Park (Permit No PNH-008-2012, RJ No. 11-2015-SERNANP PHN and RJ No. 13-2017-SERNANP-JEF from Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado) for all their support. We also thank the field crews for helping us collect data and Mauricio Nunez Oporto for drone imagery.

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No external grant funding was used for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA

    A. M. Planas-Clarke, R. A. Chimner & J. A. Hribljan

  2. USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Houghton, MI, USA

    E. A. Lilleskov

  3. The Mountain Institute, Huaraz, Peru

    B. Fuentealba

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  1. A. M. Planas-Clarke
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  2. R. A. Chimner
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  3. J. A. Hribljan
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  4. E. A. Lilleskov
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  5. B. Fuentealba
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Correspondence to A. M. Planas-Clarke.

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Planas-Clarke, A.M., Chimner, R.A., Hribljan, J.A. et al. The effect of water table levels and short-term ditch restoration on mountain peatland carbon cycling in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. Wetlands Ecol Manage 28, 51–69 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-019-09694-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-019-09694-z

Keywords

  • Bofedales
  • Carbon cycling
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Methane
  • Andes
  • Cushion peatlands
  • Ditch blocking
  • Light compensation point

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