HR: 1340h
AN: B43B-0162    [Abstracts]
TI: Species-specific Effects of Vascular Plants on Carbon Turnover and Methane Emissions from a Subarctic Wetland
AU: * Stroem, L
EM: lena.strom@nateko.lu.se
AF: Geobiosphere Science Centre, Lund University, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Soelvegatan 12, Lund, 223 62 Sweden
AU: Christensen, T R
EM: Torben.Christensen@nateko.lu.se
AF: Geobiosphere Science Centre, Lund University, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Soelvegatan 12, Lund, 223 62 Sweden
AB: Several aspects of biodiversity have important implications for ecosystem functioning. Species composition in any ecosystem affects carbon and energy exchange as well as greenhouse gas fluxes. In combination with the effects of vascular plants on CO$_{2}$ dynamics through photosynthesis and respiration plants also affect important processes relating to CH$_{4}$ dynamics, e.g., production, consumption and transport. Details of the mechanisms behind these relationships, however, are still poorly known. Here we present results from a field experiment on the subarctic mire Stordalen near Abisko ($68\deg$21'N, $19\deg$00'E) in northern Sweden where we during one growing season (June to September) investigated the effect of three dominating sedges, i.e. {\it Carex rotundata}, {\it Eriophorum vaginatum} and {\it Eriophorum angustifolium}, on ecosystem functioning. Throughout the season we determined CO$_{2}$ fluxes, CH$_{4}$ emission, dissolved CH$_{4}$ in the pore water, active layer, water table depth and substrate availability for methane producing bacteria (determined as the pore water concentration of easily degradable carbon compounds, i.e., organic acids, amino acids and carbohydrates). The results are evaluated in the context of current undergoing changes in vegetation composition and the implications for landscape scale methane emissions.
DE: 1615 Biogeochemical processes (4805)
DE: 0315 Biosphere/atmosphere interactions
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting