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Seasonal Net Ecosystem Carbon Exchange of a Regenerating Cutaway Bog: How Long Does it Take to Restore the C‐Sequestration Function?
Author(s) -
Samaritani Emanuela,
Siegenthaler Andy,
YliPetäys Mika,
Buttler Alexandre,
Christin PascalAntoine,
Mitchell Edward A. D.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
restoration ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1526-100X
pISSN - 1061-2971
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2010.00662.x
Subject(s) - sphagnum , bog , ecosystem respiration , ecosystem , growing season , peat , environmental science , respiration , photosynthesis , agronomy , vegetation (pathology) , ecology , botany , primary production , biology , medicine , pathology
We measured the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and respiration rates and modeled the photosynthesis and respiration dynamics in a cutover bog in the Swiss Jura Mountains during one growing season at three stages of regeneration (29, 42, and 51 years after peat cutting; coded sites A, B, and C) to determine if reestablishment of Sphagnum suffices to restore the C‐sequestration function. From the younger to the older stage Sphagnum cover increased, while net primary Sphagnum production over the growing season decreased (139, 82, and, 67 g m −2 y −1 for A, B, and C respectively), and fen plant species were replaced by bog species. According to our NEE estimations, over the vegetation period site A was a net CO 2 ‐C source emitting 40 g CO 2 ‐C/m 2 while sites B and C were accumulating CO 2 ‐C, on average 222 and 209 g CO 2 ‐C/m 2 , respectively. These differences are due to the higher respiration in site A during the summer, suggesting that early regeneration stages may be more sensitive to a warmer climate. Methane fluxes increased from site A to C in parallel with Eriophorum vaginatum cover and vascular plant leaf area. Our results show that reestablishing a Sphagnum cover is not sufficient to restore a CO 2 ‐sequestrating function but that after circa 50 years the ecosystem may naturally regain this function over the growing season.