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Carbon dynamics in peat bogs: Insights from substrate macromolecular chemistry
Author(s) -
Kuder Tomasz,
Kruge Michael A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/2000gb001293
Subject(s) - bog , peat , sphagnum , environmental chemistry , anoxic waters , chemistry , organic matter , subfossil , carbon fibers , microbial biodegradation , litter , anoxygenic photosynthesis , carbon cycle , ecology , geology , ecosystem , biology , microorganism , oceanography , materials science , bacteria , composite number , composite material , paleontology , biochemistry , photosynthesis , holocene , organic chemistry , phototroph
The macromolecular compositions of subfossil plants from boreal Sphagnum bogs and restiad bogs (New Zealand) have been studied by pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to evaluate the extent of degradation in the anoxic zone (catotelm) of a peat bog. Degradation of vascular plant polysaccharides was apparent only into the upper catotelm. Sphagnum was degraded more slowly than vascular plants, but no cessation of degradation was observed. The inferred rate of degradation varied depending on type of plant, extent of aerobic, precatotelmic degradation, and mode of litter deposition (rooting versus at the surface). Environmental forcing on anaerobic carbon dynamics would potentially be largest if the hydrology was disturbed at a wet and vascular plant‐rich site. Peat deposited under a dry regime would be relatively inert in anaerobic conditions. Although catotelmic degradation is usually not extensive, in some cases, if labile organic matter is retained in the aerobic phase (e.g., restiad bogs) a major fraction of peat is degraded in catotelm, potentially resulting in a delayed major export of 14 C‐old methane.