Impacts of historical ditching on peat volume and carbon in northern Minnesota USA peatlands

Krause, Liam; McCullough, Kevin J.; Kane, Evan S.; Kolka, Randall K.; Chimner, Rodney A.; Lilleskov, Erik A.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113090

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Globally, boreal peatlands cover a land area of 4 million km 2 , primarily in Russia, Canada, and the USA . Within Minnesota, boreal peatlands cover a land area of 24,000 km 2 . Boreal peatlands are hot spots for the production of methylmercury (MeHg) that lead to toxic and environmentally detrimental levels. − Methylmercury released from peatlands to aquatic systems can be biomagnified in the food web to top predatory fish that humans and wildlife consume .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Role of Ester Sulfate and Organic Disulfide in Mercury Methylation in Peatland Soils

Pierce

Furman

Nicholas

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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We examined the composition and spatial correlation of sulfur and mercury pools in peatland soil profiles by measuring sulfur speciation by 1s X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectrocopy and mercury concentrations by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. Also investigated were the methylation/demethylation rate constants and the presence of hgcAB genes with depth. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentration and organic disulfide were spatially correlated and had a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05). This finding is consistent with these species being products of dissimilatory sulfate reduction. Conversely, a significant negative correlation between organic monosulfides and MeHg was observed, which is consistent with a reduction in Hg(II) bioavailability via complexation reactions. Finally, a significant positive correlation between ester sulfate and instantaneous methylation rate constants was observed, which is consistent with ester sulfate being a substrate for mercury methylation via dissimilatory sulfate reduction. Our findings point to the importance of organic sulfur species in mercury methylation processes, as substrates and products, as well as potential inhibitors of Hg(II) bioavailability. For a peatland system with sub-μmol L–1 porewater concentrations of sulfate and hydrogen sulfide, our findings indicate that the solid-phase sulfur pools, which have a much larger sulfur concentration range, may be accessible to microbial activity or exchanging with the porewater.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Globally, boreal peatlands cover a land area of 4 million km 2 , primarily in Russia, Canada, and the USA. 1 Within Minnesota, boreal peatlands cover a land area of 24,000 km 2 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Ester Sulfate and Organic Disulfide in Mercury Methylation in Peatland Soils

Pierce

Furman

Nicholas

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Indeed, the three peatlands selected in the present study were included in the study of Krause et al (2021), which was aimed to assess the historical impact of drainage ditches on the peatlands of northern Minnesota. Using a model predicting the relative contribution of oxidation to subsidence from years since drainage, Krause et al (2021) predicted that approximately half of the peat loss was attributable to carbon loss via oxidation, while the other half was attributable to peat compaction.…”

Section: The Threshold In Plant-mycorrhizal Associations Collocates W...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By the nineteenth century, c. 24 Mha (c. 5%) of northern peatlands had been extensively drained for agriculture and forestry practices (Greifswald Mire Centre, 2019). Historical drainage removed the anoxic constraint on decomposition, leading to peat carbon loss to the atmosphere via decomposition and more frequent and extensive wildfires (Turetsky et al, 2015;Chimner et al, 2017;Harris et al, 2020;Krause et al, 2021;Ma et al, 2022;Fluet-Chouinard et al, 2023). Yet, this drainage has not affected northern peatlands uniformly, mostly due to differences in peatland types, climates, and vegetation changes (Laiho, 2006;Talbot et al, 2010;Urbanov a & B arta, 2016;Krause et al, 2021;Kokkonen et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peat loss collocates with a threshold in plant–mycorrhizal associations in drained peatlands encroached by trees

et al. 2023

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Summary Drainage‐induced encroachment by trees may have major effects on the carbon balance of northern peatlands, and responses of microbial communities are likely to play a central mechanistic role. We profiled the soil fungal community and estimated its genetic potential for the decay of lignin and phenolics (class II peroxidase potential) along peatland drainage gradients stretching from interior locations (undrained, open) to ditched locations (drained, forested). Mycorrhizal fungi dominated the community across the gradients. When moving towards ditches, the dominant type of mycorrhizal association abruptly shifted from ericoid mycorrhiza to ectomycorrhiza at c. 120 m from the ditches. This distance corresponded with increased peat loss, from which more than half may be attributed to oxidation. The ectomycorrhizal genus Cortinarius dominated at the drained end of the gradients and its relatively higher genetic potential to produce class II peroxidases (together with Mycena) was positively associated with peat humification and negatively with carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio. Our study is consistent with a plant–soil feedback mechanism, driven by a shift in the mycorrhizal type of vegetation, that potentially mediates changes in aerobic decomposition during postdrainage succession. Such feedback may have long‐term legacy effects upon postdrainage restoration efforts and implication for tree encroachment onto carbon‐rich soils globally.

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“…If decomposition exceeds production, peatlands will no longer function as carbon sinks. Similarly, large-scale ditching to convert peatlands to agriculture and forestry has caused substantial regional losses of peat [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fresh Air for the Mire-Breathing Hypothesis: Sphagnum Moss and Peat Structure Regulate the Response of CO2 Exchange to Altered Hydrology in a Northern Peatland Ecosystem

O’Neill

Tucker

Kane

2022

Water

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Sphagnum-dominated peatlands store more carbon than all of Earth’s forests, playing a large role in the balance of carbon dioxide. However, these carbon sinks face an uncertain future as the changing climate is likely to cause water stress, potentially reducing Sphagnum productivity and transitioning peatlands to carbon sources. A mesocosm experiment was performed on thirty-two peat cores collected from two peatland landforms: elevated mounds (hummocks) and lower, flat areas of the peatland (hollows). Both rainfall treatments and water tables were manipulated, and CO2 fluxes were measured. Other studies have observed peat subsiding and tracking the water table downward when experiencing water stress, thought to be a self-preservation technique termed ‘Mire-breathing’. However, we found that hummocks tended to compress inwards, rather than subsiding towards the lowered water table as significantly as hollows. Lower peat height was linearly associated with reduced gross primary production (GPP) in response to lowered water tables, indicating that peat subsidence did not significantly enhance the resistance of GPP to drought. Conversely, Sphagnum peat compression was found to stabilize GPP, indicating that this mechanism of resilience to drought may transmit across the landscape depending on which Sphagnum landform types are dominant. This study draws direct connections between Sphagnum traits and peatland hydrology and carbon cycling.

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Impacts of historical ditching on peat volume and carbon in northern Minnesota USA peatlands

Cited by 12 publications

References 37 publications

Role of Ester Sulfate and Organic Disulfide in Mercury Methylation in Peatland Soils

Role of Ester Sulfate and Organic Disulfide in Mercury Methylation in Peatland Soils

Peat loss collocates with a threshold in plant–mycorrhizal associations in drained peatlands encroached by trees

Fresh Air for the Mire-Breathing Hypothesis: Sphagnum Moss and Peat Structure Regulate the Response of CO2 Exchange to Altered Hydrology in a Northern Peatland Ecosystem

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