![]() ![]() As today stable isotope measurements are routine measurements, these findings enable us to get cost- and time efficient reliable information of drainage and restoration success.Ī unique biodiversity, slow rates of decomposition and the storage of significant quantities of carbon characterize wetland soils this is especially true for nutrient-poor peatlands ( Moore and Basiliko, 2006). Hence, we conclude that stable isotopes, especially δ 15N values, reflect changing microbial metabolic processes, which differ between drained and undrained - and especially also for recent rewetted–peatlands. Interestingly, cores from recent rewetted peatlands show no depth trend of δ 15N in the layers grown under rewetting conditions this is congruent with relatively low concentrations of microbial-derived mFAs. Bacteria, particularly acidobacteria, can be expected to dominate increased denitrification with low oxygen saturation accompanied by increased δ 15N bulk values in the remaining substrate. Drained layers showed simultaneous changes in microbial abundance and composition and depth trends in stable isotope bulk values. Under waterlogged conditions overall levels of microbial-derived mFAs were generally low. The results support our hypothesis that changing peatland hydrology induce a shift in microbial community and metabolism processes and is therefore also imprinted in stable isotope values. We found increasing bacterial-derived mFA concentrations with depth peaking in the middle of the drained layers, which correlates with a δ 15N peak of bulk material. Fungal-derived mFA abundance was highest in the uppermost part of the drained layer. ![]() Cores were taken from adjacent drained (or rewetted) and undrained sites. We performed two sampling campaigns to verify the observed stable isotope depth trends in nutrient-poor peatlands in Northern Europe. To understand the role of microbial groups in biogeochemical cycling, gaseous loss and isotopic fractionation that lead to specific isotopic depth patterns (δ 13C, δ 15N), we integrated previously published stable isotope data with a membrane fatty acid (mFA) analysis related to various microbial groups that are known to be common in peatlands. Therefore, and in view of the ongoing climate change, an efficient method of evaluating peatland hydrology and the success of restoration efforts is needed. Peatland degradation impairs soil functions such as carbon storage and the existence of biodiversity hotspots. 1Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.Miriam Groß-Schmölders 1* Kristy Klein 2 Axel Birkholz 1 Jens Leifeld 2 Christine Alewell 1
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |