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Major implication of the littoral zone for methane release from boreal lakes
Author(s) -
Juutinen Sari,
Alm Jukka,
Larmola Tuula,
Huttunen Jari T.,
Morero Micaela,
Martikainen Pertti J.,
Silvola Jouko
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1029/2003gb002105
Subject(s) - littoral zone , pelagic zone , environmental science , ecotone , vegetation (pathology) , boreal , lake ecosystem , oceanography , hydrology (agriculture) , ecology , geology , ecosystem , habitat , biology , medicine , geotechnical engineering , pathology
Transitions between aquatic and terrestrial environments can be recognized as biogeochemically active ecotones that support high CH 4 release. We studied the links between littoral CH 4 fluxes and aquatic vegetation, hydrologic conditions, and sediment quality, and integrated the CH 4 fluxes into a whole‐lake assessment. Methane fluxes were measured using a closed chamber method in the littoral and pelagic zones of three Finnish mid‐boreal lakes from May to October. The cumulative CH 4 fluxes were spatially integrated over the lake relative to the vegetation coverage in the littoral, and to depth zones in the pelagic regions. During the ice‐free period, 66–77% of the CH 4 was released from the littoral zone, and the mean CH 4 effluxes from these lakes were 0.08–0.42 mol m −2 ice‐free season −1 . Littoral and pelagic productivity was reflected in CH 4 release from the lakes. Our results show that estimates of lake CH 4 release should include an assessment of the vegetated littoral zone.