(2017) Impacts of conversion of tropical peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation on peat organic chemistry, physical properties and carbon stocks. Geoderma, 289 . pp. 36-45. ISSN 1872-6259 Access from the University of Nottingham repository: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/43906/1/Tonks%20et%20al.%20for %20Geoderma_18%20Oct.pdf
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54These unique systems are valuable resources, contributing a multitude of ecosystem services.
55Above ground, tropical rainforests maintain areas of high biodiversity by providing habitats 56 for a variety of species, many of which are endemic (Posa et al. 2011; Keddy et al., 2009).
57Below ground, the sequestration of atmospheric carbon is interwoven into the fabric of the 58 ecosystem (Jauhiainen et al., 2008). An estimated 42,000 megatons of ancient carbon is 59 stored in 12% of the total land area of Southeast Asia alone, making this one of the largest 60 stores of terrestrial carbon on Earth (Wetlands International, 2014). Peat soil structure is 61 responsible for ecosystem processes by controlling hydrology, which regulates hydrological 62 features within the catchment. For example, its high organic matter content and low bulk 63 density allows peat to acts as a water reservoir, mitigating extreme conditions such as floods 64 and droughts (Huat et al., 2011;Wösten et al., 2008).
65Land use change over the past century has been a key driver of peatland degradation, with 66 conversion to agriculture and forestry, and peat extraction sites, leading to artificially lowered 67 water tables (Haddaway et al., 2014 (Hooijer et al., 2010; Couwenberg et al., 2010).
85A greater degree of peat decomposition results in loss of structure as fresh litter is first broken 86 down to fibrous hemic peat, and then, following sustained decomposition, to sapric peat 87 (Wüst et al., 2003). The progressing decomposition process alters the organic components 88 and chemistry due to loss of carbon and conversion of readily decomposable materials, such 89 as polysaccharides, celluloses and hemicelluloses, with only more recalcitrant compounds 90 such as lignin and humic substances remaining (Andriesse, 1988; Broder et al., 2012; Kuhry 91 and Vitt, 1996;...