A1 Journal article (refereed)
Integrating Decomposers, Methane-Cycling Microbes and Ecosystem Carbon Fluxes Along a Peatland Successional Gradient in a Land Uplift Region (2022)
Juottonen, H., Kieman, M., Fritze, H., Hamberg, L., Laine, A. M., Merilä, P., Peltoniemi, K., Putkinen, A., & Tuittila, E.-S. (2022). Integrating Decomposers, Methane-Cycling Microbes and Ecosystem Carbon Fluxes Along a Peatland Successional Gradient in a Land Uplift Region. Ecosystems, 25(6), 1249-1264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00713-w
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Juottonen, Heli; Kieman, Mirkka; Fritze, Hannu; Hamberg, Leena; Laine, Anna M.; Merilä, Päivi; Peltoniemi, Krista; Putkinen, Anuliina; Tuittila, Eeva-Stiina
Journal or series: Ecosystems
ISSN: 1432-9840
eISSN: 1435-0629
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 19/10/2021
Volume: 25
Issue number: 6
Pages range: 1249-1264
Publisher: Springer Science+Business Media
Publication country: Netherlands
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00713-w
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78426
Publication is parallel published: https://jukuri.luke.fi/handle/10024/547995
Abstract
Peatlands are carbon dioxide (CO2) sinks that, in parallel, release methane (CH4). The peatland carbon (C) balance depends on the interplay of decomposer and CH4-cycling microbes, vegetation, and environmental conditions. These interactions are susceptible to the changes that occur along a successional gradient from vascular plant-dominated systems to Sphagnum moss-dominated systems. Changes similar to this succession are predicted to occur from climate change. Here, we investigated how microbial and plant communities are interlinked with each other and with ecosystem C cycling along a successional gradient on a boreal land uplift coast. The gradient ranged from shoreline to meadows and fens, and further to bogs. Potential microbial activity (aerobic CO2 production; CH4 production and oxidation) and biomass were greatest in the early successional meadows, although their communities of aerobic decomposers (fungi, actinobacteria), methanogens, and methanotrophs did not differ from the older fens. Instead, the functional microbial communities shifted at the fen–bog transition concurrent with a sudden decrease in C fluxes. The successional patterns of decomposer versus CH4-cycling communities diverged at the bog stage, indicating strong but distinct microbial responses to Sphagnum dominance and acidity. We highlight young meadows as dynamic sites with the greatest microbial potential for C release. These hot spots of C turnover with dense sedge cover may represent a sensitive bottleneck in succession, which is necessary for eventual long-term peat accumulation. The distinctive microbes in bogs could serve as indicators of the C sink function in restoration measures that aim to stabilize the C in the peat.
Keywords: peatlands; microbiome; fungi; bacteria; biomass (ecology); carbon cycle; carbon sinks; methane; land uplift
Free keywords: ecosystem respiration; methane emission; fungi; actinobacteria; methanogens; methanotrophs; microbial biomass; microbial community; primary paludification; peatland development.
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 2