Potential methane production and methane oxidation rates in peatland ecosystems of the Appalachian Mountains, United States

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GB002i003p00253· OSTI ID:6710669

Yavitt, J B; Lang, G E; Downey, D M ^[1]

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1. West Virginia Univ., Morgantown (USA)

Potential rates of methane production and carbon dioxide production were measured on 11 dates in 1986 in peat from six plant communities typical of moss-dominated peatlands in the Appalachian Mountains. Annual methane production ranged from 2.7 to 17.5 mol/sq m, and annual carbon dioxide production ranged from 30.6 to 79.0 mol/sq m. The wide range in methane production values among the communities found within a single peatland indicates that obtaining one production value for a peatland may not be appropriate. Low temperature constrained the potential for methane production in winter, while the chemical quality of the peat substrate appears to control methane production in the summer. Methane oxidation was measured throughout the peat profile to a depth of 30 cm. Values for methane oxidation ranged from 0.08 to 18.7 microM/hr among the six plant communities. Aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria probably mediated most of the activity. On a daily basis during the summer, between 11 and 100% of the methane produced is susceptible to oxidation within the peat column. Pools of dissolved methane and dissolved carbon dioxide in pore waters were less than 0.2 and less than 1.0 mol/sq m, respectively, indicating that methane does not accumulate in the pore waters. Peatlands have been considered as an important source of biologically produced methane. Despite the high rates of methane production, the high rates of methane oxidation dampen the potential emission of methane to the atmosphere. 41 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6710669
• Journal Information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (USA), Vol. 2:3; ISSN 0886-6236
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
METHANE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
AIR POLLUTION
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
CARBON DIOXIDE
INTERSTITIAL WATER
METHANOTROPHIC BACTERIA
OXIDATION
POLLUTION SOURCES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
WETLANDS
ALKANES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BACTERIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
GROUND WATER
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
MOUNTAINS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
VARIATIONS
WATER
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology