Ecological controls on methane emissions from a northern peatland complex, Manitoba, Canada

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America

OSTI ID:95756

Bubier, J L; Moore, T R ^[1]

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1. McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec (Canada)

This study measured methane (CH{sub 4}) emissions by a static chamber technique from a wide range of sites (pH 3.9 - 7.0) in a peatland complex near Thompson, Manitoba in the Boreal Ecosystem - Atmosphere Study (BOREAS). The objectives were to identify environmental controls on CH{sub 4} emission rates, determine their spatial and temporal variability, and examine the change in CH{sub 4} emission associated with the evolution of permafrost, palsas, and collapse scars. Peak CH{sub 4} fluxes ranged from 0 in the palsas and treed peat islands to 1200 mg m{sup -2} d{sup -1} in the open sedge-rich fens and saturated lagg areas of collapse scars, where permafrost was actively degrading. The greatest variability in fluxes occurred in flooded sites where ebullition was a transport mechanism. Depth to water table and peat temperature at the average water table position explained most of the variability in CH{sub 4} fluxes, with plant composition and density, substrate type, and the CH{sub 4} production/consumption potentials of the various peats as additional factors. CH{sub 4} flux did not vary with pH in the field since water table position and temperature were overriding controls.

• OSTI ID: 95756
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507129--
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, Journal Name: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 76; ISSN BECLAG; ISSN 0012-9623
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR-BIOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
EMISSION
MANITOBA
METHANE
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PEAT