Ecological controls on methane emissions from a northern peatland complex in the zone of discontinuous permafrost, Manitoba, Canada

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Global Biogeochemical Cycles

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/95GB02379· OSTI ID:244065

Bubier, J L; Moore, T R; Bellisario, L ^[1]

---

1. McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec (Canada); and others

The goals of this study were to: (1) measure methane (CH{sub 4}) emissions from peatland soils, (2) improve process models of peatland-atmospheric methane exchange by identifying environmental controls on methane emission, and (3) provide a method of extending CH{sub 4} emissions data from the laboratory to the landscape scale by determining the relationships between plant associations and CH{sub 4} flux. Sites representing a range of parameters were selected for CH{sub 4} sampling and analyses. Linear regression of concentration changes was used to calculate CH{sub 4} flux. In general, calculated methane emissions were larger than those reported for other boreal wetland sites at a similar latitude. The range of flux measurements showed spatial variation within and among sites as well as seasonal variation among sites. Open graminoid fens had the highest mean seasonal flux, while treed sites had the lowest mean flux. To determine the effects of environmental variables, data on seasonal patterns of water table position and peat temperature were collected and analyzed statistically. A correlation between peat temperature and water table position was observed. A predictive model for methane flux and environmental variables using multiple stepwise regression was developed. The model showed a negative correlation of CH{sub 4} flux with height above mean water table, and a weak correlation of flux with chemistry. The results of the study indicate that multivariate vegetation analyses may be a useful tool for accounting for environmental controls on methane flux and applying chamber measurements to the landscape scale using remote sensing. 43 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 244065
• Journal Information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Journal Name: Global Biogeochemical Cycles Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 9; ISSN 0886-6236; ISSN GBCYEP
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR-BIOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
CANADA
EMISSION
METHANE
PLANTS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
WETLANDS