A combined microbial and biogeochemical dataset from high-latitude ecosystems with respect to methane cycle

Abstract

High latitudes are experiencing intense ecosystem changes with climate warming. The underlying methane (CH4) cycling dynamics remain unresolved, despite its crucial climatic feedback. Atmospheric CH4 emissions are heterogeneous, resulting from local geochemical drivers, global climatic factors, and microbial production/consumption balance. Holistic studies are mandatory to capture CH4 cycling complexity. Here, we report a large set of integrated microbial and biogeochemical data from 387 samples, using a concerted sampling strategy and experimental protocols. The study followed international standards to ensure inter-comparisons of data amongst three high-latitude regions: Alaska, Siberia, and Patagonia. The dataset encompasses different representative environmental features (e.g. lake, wetland, tundra, forest soil) of these high-latitude sites and their respective heterogeneity (e.g. characteristic microtopographic patterns). The data included physicochemical parameters, greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions, organic matter characterization, trace elements and nutrients, isotopes, microbial quantification and composition. This dataset addresses the need for a robust physicochemical framework to conduct and contextualize future research on the interactions between climate change, biogeochemical cycles and microbial communities at high-latitudes.

Fine-Scale Spatial Variability of Greenhouse Gas Emissions From a Subantarctic Peatland Bog

“…CH 4 emissions varied considerably over 80 locations measured (5 plots ×16 measurements), with F CH4 ranging from −4.23 to 35.26 mg m –2 h –1 and a mean of 1.82 ± 5.01 mg m –2 h –1 (one standard deviation), along with a CV of 275%. This range is consistent with values reported in previous measurements conducted in peatlands from Southern Patagonian, which ranged between −0.03 and 17.30 mg m –2 h –1 . , Five heatmaps were generated for the five plots (Figure A; A1–A5), and three heatmaps were elaborated for plot 1, corresponding to three distinct dates, to account for temporal variations (Figure B; B1–B3).…”

“…35 Additionally, we used Tukey's honestly significant difference test for specific group comparisons to determine statistical significance. 36,37 Five heatmaps were generated for the five plots (Figure 1A; A1−A5), and three heatmaps were elaborated for plot 1, corresponding to three distinct dates, to account for temporal variations (Figure 1B; B1−B3).…”

Biogeography of microbial communities in high‐latitude ecosystems: Contrasting drivers for methanogens, methanotrophs and global prokaryotes

“…The water was sampled from depths going from 10 cm to 14 m in Van Dorn bottle while the superficial sediments (10 cm from sediment surface) were taken with a grab sampler. A detailed description of sampling strategy is available in Barret et al (2022). All samples were transported and kept at 4°C until further processing.…”

“…To determine if a soil was mineral or organic, we used a threshold of 40% of OM according to (Schuur et al, 2015). The complete description of analytical methods for the determination of physicochemical variables is available in Barret et al (2022).…”

“…The distribution of these habitats in the landscape, and their transition, is impacted by climate change. This large dataset is accompanied by a comprehensive physicochemical characterisation of the habitats, carried out according to systematic and standardised methodologies for sampling and analysis in all three regions, thus ensuring direct inter‐comparability of the results (Barret et al, 2022). This study aims at investigating and hierarchising how geographic distance as well as physicochemical and climatic parameters explain the diversity of methanogenic, methanotrophic and overall prokaryotic communities in Arctic, sub‐Arctic and sub‐Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems.…”