Freeze-thaw cycles simultaneously decrease peatland photosynthetic carbon uptake and ecosystem respiration

Martin Küttim; Maaike L. Hofsommer; Bjorn J.M. Robroek; Constant Signarbieux; Vincent E.J. Jassey; Anna M. Laine; Mariusz Lamentowicz; Alexandre Buttler; Mati Ilomets; Robert T.E. Mills

Freeze-thaw cycles simultaneously decrease peatland photosynthetic carbon uptake and ecosystem respiration

Martin Küttim^*, Maaike L. Hofsommer, Bjorn J.M. Robroek, Constant Signarbieux, Vincent E.J. Jassey, Anna M. Laine, Mariusz Lamentowicz, Alexandre Buttler, Mati Ilomets, Robert T.E. Mills

^*Corresponding author for this work

Environment and Geography

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Decreasing snow cover in winter resulting from climate warming increases the incidence of freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) in many ecosystems, including peatlands. As peatland ecosystems form a globally significant long-term carbon storage, understanding the effects of changing conditions in winter on carbon dynamics is essential. We studied how FTCs affect peatland carbon cycling by conducting mesocosm experiments with Sphagnum. Our results indicate an overall impeding effect of FTCs on Sphagnum photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, ecosystem respiration and enzymatic processes. A threefold reduction in photosynthesis in the FTC treatment was related to a decrease in chlorophyll content, showing that Sphagnum physiologically suffers from repeated FTCs. In the FTC treatment β-glucosidase and phosphatase enzymatic activities decreased by 50% and 30%, respectively, whilst alanine remained unaffected, indicating that in peat soils short-term FTCs affect the carbon and phosphorus cycles, but not the nitrogen cycle. Long-term effects of FTCs deserve further studies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	267-276
Number of pages	10
Journal	Boreal Environment Research
Volume	22
Early online date	29 May 2017
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 29 May 2017

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Küttim, M., Hofsommer, M. L., Robroek, B. J. M., Signarbieux, C., Jassey, V. E. J., Laine, A. M., Lamentowicz, M., Buttler, A., Ilomets, M., & Mills, R. T. E. (2017). Freeze-thaw cycles simultaneously decrease peatland photosynthetic carbon uptake and ecosystem respiration. Boreal Environment Research, 22, 267-276. http://www.borenv.net/BER/pdfs/ber22/ber22-267-276.pdf

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title = "Freeze-thaw cycles simultaneously decrease peatland photosynthetic carbon uptake and ecosystem respiration",

abstract = "Decreasing snow cover in winter resulting from climate warming increases the incidence of freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) in many ecosystems, including peatlands. As peatland ecosystems form a globally significant long-term carbon storage, understanding the effects of changing conditions in winter on carbon dynamics is essential. We studied how FTCs affect peatland carbon cycling by conducting mesocosm experiments with Sphagnum. Our results indicate an overall impeding effect of FTCs on Sphagnum photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, ecosystem respiration and enzymatic processes. A threefold reduction in photosynthesis in the FTC treatment was related to a decrease in chlorophyll content, showing that Sphagnum physiologically suffers from repeated FTCs. In the FTC treatment β-glucosidase and phosphatase enzymatic activities decreased by 50% and 30%, respectively, whilst alanine remained unaffected, indicating that in peat soils short-term FTCs affect the carbon and phosphorus cycles, but not the nitrogen cycle. Long-term effects of FTCs deserve further studies.",

author = "Martin K{\"u}ttim and Hofsommer, {Maaike L.} and Robroek, {Bjorn J.M.} and Constant Signarbieux and Jassey, {Vincent E.J.} and Laine, {Anna M.} and Mariusz Lamentowicz and Alexandre Buttler and Mati Ilomets and Mills, {Robert T.E.}",

year = "2017",

month = may,

day = "29",

language = "English",

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pages = "267--276",

journal = "Boreal Environment Research",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Freeze-thaw cycles simultaneously decrease peatland photosynthetic carbon uptake and ecosystem respiration

AU - Küttim, Martin

AU - Hofsommer, Maaike L.

AU - Robroek, Bjorn J.M.

AU - Signarbieux, Constant

AU - Jassey, Vincent E.J.

AU - Laine, Anna M.

AU - Lamentowicz, Mariusz

AU - Buttler, Alexandre

AU - Ilomets, Mati

AU - Mills, Robert T.E.

PY - 2017/5/29

Y1 - 2017/5/29

N2 - Decreasing snow cover in winter resulting from climate warming increases the incidence of freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) in many ecosystems, including peatlands. As peatland ecosystems form a globally significant long-term carbon storage, understanding the effects of changing conditions in winter on carbon dynamics is essential. We studied how FTCs affect peatland carbon cycling by conducting mesocosm experiments with Sphagnum. Our results indicate an overall impeding effect of FTCs on Sphagnum photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, ecosystem respiration and enzymatic processes. A threefold reduction in photosynthesis in the FTC treatment was related to a decrease in chlorophyll content, showing that Sphagnum physiologically suffers from repeated FTCs. In the FTC treatment β-glucosidase and phosphatase enzymatic activities decreased by 50% and 30%, respectively, whilst alanine remained unaffected, indicating that in peat soils short-term FTCs affect the carbon and phosphorus cycles, but not the nitrogen cycle. Long-term effects of FTCs deserve further studies.

AB - Decreasing snow cover in winter resulting from climate warming increases the incidence of freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) in many ecosystems, including peatlands. As peatland ecosystems form a globally significant long-term carbon storage, understanding the effects of changing conditions in winter on carbon dynamics is essential. We studied how FTCs affect peatland carbon cycling by conducting mesocosm experiments with Sphagnum. Our results indicate an overall impeding effect of FTCs on Sphagnum photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, ecosystem respiration and enzymatic processes. A threefold reduction in photosynthesis in the FTC treatment was related to a decrease in chlorophyll content, showing that Sphagnum physiologically suffers from repeated FTCs. In the FTC treatment β-glucosidase and phosphatase enzymatic activities decreased by 50% and 30%, respectively, whilst alanine remained unaffected, indicating that in peat soils short-term FTCs affect the carbon and phosphorus cycles, but not the nitrogen cycle. Long-term effects of FTCs deserve further studies.

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M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85020394809

VL - 22

SP - 267

EP - 276

JO - Boreal Environment Research

JF - Boreal Environment Research

SN - 1239-6095

ER -

Freeze-thaw cycles simultaneously decrease peatland photosynthetic carbon uptake and ecosystem respiration

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