Update of recent rates of carbon accumulation in bogs of Northern Patagonia-Chile

Abstract

Peatlands are one of the most important carbon cycle regulatory ecosystems, and are influenced by global climate change. However, studies of this kind of wetland are scarce in southern South America. In this study we performed a detailed analysis of recent accumulation rates of carbon (RERCA) in two types of Sphagnum peatland in Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile) (42°-43°S and 75°-73°W). Monoliths of peat in continuous depths were analyzed and assigned ages using 210 Pb dating. The results showed a difference between the two types of peatland; the average rate for the anthropogenic peatland (107.34 ±113.9 g C m-2 yr-1) was superior to that of the natural peatland (78.33±77.1 g C m-2 yr-1). The surface profiles (30 cm) clearly revealed the recent rate of carbon accumulation for the past 100 years in Sphagnum peatlands of Northern Patagonia. The rate for the natural peatland is within the range found for ombrotrophic peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the rate estimated for the anthropogenic peatland was significantly greater than those reported in other parts of the world. Our results provide evidence of the importance of these unique ecosystems in the carbon accumulation process.

Cálculo y valoración del almacenamiento de carbono del humedal altoandino de Chalhuanca, Arequipa (Perú).

“…Por otro lado, el bofedal aquí estudiado, dada la delgada capa de material orgánico en comparación a otros humedales Hribljan et al 2015), puede considerarse como un bofedal creado hace unas décadas atrás y manejado por la población. Esto de alguna manera puede explicar la alta tasa de C en el suelo, ya que otros estudios como el de León et al (2018), explica cómo es que un humedal "antrópicojoven" puede tener mayores tasas de fijación de C a diferencia de un humedal "natural-longevo". Los resultados obtenidos coinciden con Roa-García y Brown (2016), que encuentra un mayor contenido orgánico alrededor de los 50 cm superiores del suelo, donde los horizontes debajo de éstos, corresponderían a un suelo con menor contenido de carbono orgánico o constituye un suelo con características minerales.…”

Disturbance alters relationships between soil carbon pools and aboveground vegetation attributes in an anthropogenic peatland in Patagonia

“…In contrast to the extensively studied peatlands of the Northern Hemisphere, research on Patagonian peatlands is scarce (León et al, 2018). Joosten and Clarke (2002) estimated the surface of peatlands in Chilean Patagonia to be near 10,470 km 2 , corresponding to 1.4% of the national territory (Iturraspe, 2016).…”

“…As a result, poor drainage areas were colonized by Sphagnum mosses (mainly S. magellanicum ) or successional shrublands (Díaz et al, 2007). These peatlands are called “anthropogenic peatlands” (Díaz et al, 2008; León et al, 2018).…”

“…Given the recent nature of their formation, anthropogenic peatlands differ substantially from natural peatlands in flora and levels of carbon storage (Díaz et al, 2008). For instance, the average C accumulation rate in anthropogenic peatlands of Northern Patagonia is higher (107.3 g C m −2 yr −1 ) than natural Patagonian peatland (78.3 g C m −2 yr −1 ) (León et al, 2018). Moreover, the C accumulation rate in anthropogenic peatland was significantly higher in young peat deposits near the surface (507.52 g C m −2 yr −1 ) in comparison with natural peatland (335.58 g C m −2 yr −1 ) (León et al, 2018).…”

“…For instance, the average C accumulation rate in anthropogenic peatlands of Northern Patagonia is higher (107.3 g C m −2 yr −1 ) than natural Patagonian peatland (78.3 g C m −2 yr −1 ) (León et al, 2018). Moreover, the C accumulation rate in anthropogenic peatland was significantly higher in young peat deposits near the surface (507.52 g C m −2 yr −1 ) in comparison with natural peatland (335.58 g C m −2 yr −1 ) (León et al, 2018). These differences may be attributed to the unsaturated conditions of young peat deposits near the surface, leading to a greater rate of C accumulation than old peat, and potentially due to the differences in their floristic composition.…”