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Spatial and temporal variability of soil N2O and CH4 fluxes along a degradation gradient in a palm swamp peat forest in the Peruvian Amazon

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Title Spatial and temporal variability of soil N2O and CH4 fluxes along a degradation gradient in a palm swamp peat forest in the Peruvian Amazon
 
Creator Hergoualc'h, Kristell
Dezzeo, N.
Verchot, Louis V.
Martius, C.
Lent, J. van
Águila Pasquel, J. del
López Gonzales, M.
 
Subject greenhouse gas emissions
peatlands
nitrous oxide
swamps
methane
 
Description Mauritia flexuosa palm swamp, the prevailing Peruvian Amazon peatland ecosystem, is extensively threatened by degradation. The unsustainable practice of cutting whole palms for fruit extraction modifies forest's structure and composition and eventually alters peat‐derived greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We evaluated the spatiotemporal variability of soil N2O and CH4 fluxes and environmental controls along a palm swamp degradation gradient formed by one undegraded site (Intact), one moderately degraded site (mDeg) and one heavily degraded site (hDeg). Microscale variability differentiated hummocks supporting live or cut palms from surrounding hollows. Macroscale analysis considered structural changes in vegetation and soil microtopography as impacted by degradation. Variables were monitored monthly over 3 years to evaluate intra‐ and inter‐annual variability. Degradation induced microscale changes in N2O and CH4 emission trends and controls. Site‐scale average annual CH4 emissions were similar along the degradation gradient (225.6 ± 50.7, 160.5 ± 65.9 and 169.4 ± 20.7 kg C ha−1 year−1 at the Intact, mDeg and hDeg sites, respectively). Site‐scale average annual N2O emissions (kg N ha−1 year−1) were lower at the mDeg site (0.5 ± 0.1) than at the Intact (1.3 ± 0.6) and hDeg sites (1.1 ± 0.4), but the difference seemed linked to heterogeneous fluctuations in soil water‐filled pore space (WFPS) along the forest complex rather than to degradation. Monthly and annual emissions were mainly controlled by variations in WFPS, water table level (WT) and net nitrification for N2O; WT, air temperature and net nitrification for CH4. Site‐scale N2O emissions remained steady over years, whereas CH4 emissions rose exponentially with increased precipitation. While the minor impact of degradation on palm swamp peatland N2O and CH4 fluxes should be tested elsewhere, the evidenced large and variable CH4 emissions and significant N2O emissions call for improved modeling of GHG dynamics in tropical peatlands to test their response to climate changes.
 
Date 2020-12
2021-03-08T08:18:02Z
2021-03-08T08:18:02Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Hergoualc’h, K., Dezzeo, N., Verchot, L.V., Martius, C., van Lent, J., del Aguila‐Pasquel, J. and Lopez Gonzales, M., 2020. Spatial and temporal variability of soil N2O and CH4 fluxes along a degradation gradient in a palm swamp peat forest in the Peruvian Amazon. Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15354
1354-1013
1365-2486
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/112093
https://www.cifor.org/library/7817
https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15354
 
Language en
 
Rights CC-BY-4.0
Open Access
 
Publisher Wiley