LiWeFor - Living labs for Wetland Forest research

Selle kollektsiooni püsiv URIhttps://hdl.handle.net/10062/120174

The several wetland forests in Estonia require a high level of expertise among researchers for their management. The EU-funded LiWeFoR project will establish and develop a global network of living labs for wetland forest research, education and management that will allow hybrid formats of skills transfer, teaching and training. By twinning the University of Helsinki and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology as top-class research counterparts and the University of Tartu as the recipient, LiWeFoR will systematically raise the level of expertise among researchers and decision-makers in the widening country of Estonia. The project will perform four joint field campaigns on global greenhouse gas emission hotspots in tropical wetland forest regions (Peru and Malaysia).

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Nüüd näidatakse 1 - 20 23

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Effects of Water Table Fluctuation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Wetland Soils in the Peruvian Amazon
(2021) Pärn, Jaan; Soosaar, Kaido; Schindler, Thomas; Machacova, Katerina; Muñoz, Waldemar Alegría; Fachín, Lizardo; Aspajo, José Luis Jibaja; Negron‑Juarez, Robinson I.; Maddison, Martin; Rengifo, Jhon; Dinis, Danika Journeth Garay; Oversluijs, Adriana Gabriela Arista; Fucos, Manuel Calixto Ávila; Vásquez, Rafael Chávez; Wampuch, Ronald Huaje; García, Edgar Peas; Sohar, Kristina; Horna, Segundo Cordova; Gómez, Tedi Pacheco; Muñoz, Jose David Urquiza; Espinoza, Rodil Tello; Mander, Ülo
Amazonian swamp forests remove large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) but produce methane (CH4). Both are important greenhouse gases (GHG). Drought and cultivation cut the CH4 emissions but may release CO2. Varying oxygen content in nitrogen-rich soil produces nitrous oxide (N2O), which is the third most important GHG. Despite the potentially tremendous changes, GHG emissions from wetland soils under different land uses and environmental conditions have rarely been compared in the Amazon. We measured environmental characteristics, and CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from the soil surface with manual opaque chambers in three sites near Iquitos, Peru from September 2019 to March 2020: a pristine peat swamp forest, a young forest and a slash-and-burn manioc field. The manioc field showed moderate soil respiration and N2O emission. The peat swamp forests under slight water table drawdown emitted large amounts of CO2 and CH4. A heavy post-drought shower created a hot moment of N2O in the pristine swamp forest, likely produced by nitrifiers. All in all, even small changes in soil moisture can create hot moments of GHG emissions from Amazonian wetland soils, and should therefore be carefully monitored.
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Reviews and syntheses: Greenhouse gas emissions from drained organic forest soils – synthesizing data for site-specific emission factors for boreal and cool temperate regions
(2023) Jauhiainen, Jyrki; Heikkinen, Juha; Clarke, Nicholas; He, Hongxing; Dalsgaard, Lise; Minkkinen, Kari; Ojanen, Paavo; Vesterdal, Lars; Alm, Jukka; Butlers, Aldis; Callesen, Ingeborg; Jordan, Sabine; Lohila, Annalea; Mander, Ülo; Óskarsson, Hlynur; Sigurdsson, Bjarni D.; Søgaard, Gunnhild; Soosaar, Kaido; Kasimir, Åsa; Bjarnadottir, Brynhildur; Lazdins, Andis; Laiho, Raija
We compiled published peer-reviewed CO2, CH4, and N2O data on managed drained organic forest soils in boreal and temperate zones to revisit the current Tier 1 default emission factors (EFs) provided in the IPCC (2014) Wetlands Supplement: to see whether their uncertainty may be reduced; to evaluate possibilities for breaking the broad categories used for the IPCC EFs into more site-type-specific ones; and to inspect the potential relevance of a number of environmental variables for predicting the annual soil greenhouse gas (GHG) balances, on which the EFs are based. Despite a considerable number of publications applicable for compiling EFs being added, only modest changes were found compared to the Tier 1 default EFs. However, the more specific site type categories generated in this study showed narrower confidence intervals compared to the default categories. Overall, the highest CO2 EFs were found for temperate afforested agricultural lands and boreal forestry-drained sites with very low tree stand productivity. The highest CH4 EFs in turn prevailed in boreal nutrient-poor forests with very low tree stand productivity and temperate forests irrespective of nutrient status, while the EFs for afforested sites were low or showed a sink function. The highest N2O EFs were found for afforested agricultural lands and forestry-drained nutrient-rich sites. The occasional wide confidence intervals could be mainly explained by single or a few highly deviating estimates rather than the broadness of the categories applied. Our EFs for the novel categories were further supported by the statistical models connecting the annual soil GHG balances to site-specific soil nutrient status indicators, tree stand characteristics, and temperature-associated weather and climate variables. The results of this synthesis have important implications for EF revisions and national emission reporting, e.g. by the use of different categories for afforested sites and forestry-drained sites, and more specific site productivity categories based on timber production potential.
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Peatland restoration pathways to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and retain peat carbon
(2023) Mander, Ülo; Espenberg, Mikk; Melling, Lulie; Kull, Ain
Peatlands play a crucial role in the global carbon (C) cycle, making their restoration a key strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and retaining C. This study analyses the most common restoration pathways employed in boreal and temperate peatlands, potentially applicable in tropical peat swamp forests. Our analysis focuses on the GHG emissions and C retention potential of the restoration measures. To assess the C stock change in restored (rewetted) peatlands and afforested peatlands with continuous drainage, we adopt a conceptual approach that considers short-term C capture (GHG exchange between the atmosphere and the peatland ecosystem) and long-term C sequestration in peat. The primary criterion of our conceptual model is the capacity of restoration measures to capture C and reduce GHG emissions. Our findings indicate that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most influential part of long-term climate impact of restored peatlands, whereas moderate methane (CH4) emissions and low N2O fluxes are relatively unimportant. However, lateral losses of dissolved and particulate C in water can account up to a half of the total C stock change. Among the restored peatland types, Sphagnum paludiculture showed the highest CO2 capture, followed by shallow lakes and reed/grass paludiculture. Shallow lakeshore vegetation in restored peatlands can reduce CO2 emissions and sequester C but still emit CH4, particularly during the first 20 years after restoration. Our conceptual modelling approach reveals that over a 300-year period, under stable climate conditions, drained bog forests can lose up to 50% of initial C content. In managed (regularly harvested) and continuously drained peatland forests, C accumulation in biomass and litter input does not compensate C losses from peat. In contrast, rewetted unmanaged peatland forests are turning into a persistent C sink. The modelling results emphasized the importance of long-term C balance analysis which considers soil C accumulation, moving beyond the short-term C cycling between vegetation and the atmosphere.
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Temporal dynamics of soil microbial C and N cycles with GHG fluxes in the transition from tropical peatland forest to oil palm plantation
(Environmental Microbiology, 2024) Midot, Frazer; Goh, Kian Mau; Liew, Kok Jun; Lau, Sharon Yu Ling; Espenberg, Mikk; Mander, Ülo; Melling, Lulie
Tropical peatlands significantly significantly significantly influence influence local and global carbon and nitrogen cycles, yet they face growing pressure from anthropogenic activities. Land use changes, such as peatland forests conversion to oil palm plantations, affect affect the soil microbiome and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the temporal dynamics of microbial community changes and their role as GHG indicators are not well understood. This study examines the dynamics of peat chemistry, soil microbial communities, and GHG emissions from 2016 to 2020 in a logged-over secondary peat swamp forest in Sarawak, Malaysia, which transitioned to an oil palm plantation. This study focuses on changes in genetic composition governing plant litter degradation, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes. fluxes. fluxes. Soil CO2 emission increased (doubling from approximately 200 mg C m−2 h−1), while CH4 emissions decreased (from 200 μg C m−2 h−1 to slightly negative) following land use changes. The N2O emissions in the oil palm plantation reached approximately 1,510 μg N m−2 h−1, significantly significantly significantly higher than previous land uses. The CH4 fluxes fluxes were driven by groundwater table, humification levels, and C:N ratio, with Methanomicrobia populations dominating methanogenesis and Methylocystis as the main CH4 oxidizer. The N2O fluxes fluxes correlated with groundwater table, total nitrogen, and C:N ratio with dominant nirK-type denitrifiers denitrifiers (13-fold nir to nosZ) and a minor role by nitrification nitrification (a threefold increase in amoA) in the plantation. Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria encoding incomplete denitrification denitrification genes potentially impact N2O emissions. These findings highlighted complex interactions between microbial communities and environmental factors influencing GHG fluxes fluxes in altered tropical peatland ecosystems.
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Towards an integrated view on microbial CH4, N2O and N2 cycles in brackish coastal marsh soils: A comparative analysis of two sites
(Science of The Total Environment, 2024) Espenberg, Mikk; Pille, Kristin; Yang, Bin; Maddison, Martin; Abdalla, Mohamed; Smith, Pete; Li, Xiuzhen; Chan, Ping-Lung; Mander, Ülo
Coastal ecosystems, facing threats from global change and human activities like excessive nutrients, undergo alterations impacting their function and appearance. This study explores the intertwined microbial cycles of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), encompassing methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and nitrogen gas (N2) fluxes, to determine nutrient transformation processes between the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum in the coastal ecosystems with brackish water. Water salinity negatively impacted denitrification, bacterial nitrification, N fixation, and n-DAMO processes, but did not significantly affect archaeal nitrification, COMAMMOX, DNRA, and ANAMMOX processes in the N cycle. Plant species age and biomass influenced CH4 and N2O emissions. The highest CH4 emissions were from old Spartina and mixed Spartina and Scirpus sites, while Phragmites sites emitted the most N2O. Nitrification and incomplete denitrification mainly governed N2O emissions depending on the environmental conditions and plants. The higher genetic potential of ANAMMOX reduced excessive N by converting it to N2 in the sites with higher average temperatures. The presence of plants led to a decrease in the N fixers' abundance. Plant biomass negatively affected methanogenetic mcrA genes. Microbes involved in n-DAMO processes helped mitigate CH4 emissions. Over 93 % of the total climate forcing came from CH4 emissions, except for the Chinese bare site where the climate forcing was negative, and for Phragmites sites, where almost 60 % of the climate forcing came from N2O emissions. Our findings indicate that nutrient cycles, CH4, and N2O fluxes in soils are context-dependent and influenced by environmental factors and vegetation. This underscores the need for empirical analysis of both C and N cycles at various levels (soil-plant-atmosphere) to understand how habitats or plants affect nutrient cycles and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Unraveling microbial processes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in rewetted peatlands by molecular biology
(2024) Gios, Emilie; Verbruggen, Erik; Audet, Joachim; Burns, Rachel; Butterbach‑Bahl, Klaus; Espenberg, Mikk; Fritz, Christian; Glatzel, Stephan; Jurasinski, Gerald; Larmola, Tuula; Mander, Ülo; Nielsen, Claudia; Rodriguez, Andres F.; Scheer, Clemens; Zak, Dominik; Silvennoinen, Hanna M.
Restoration of drained peatlands through rewetting has recently emerged as a prevailing strategy to mitigate excessive greenhouse gas emissions and re-establish the vital carbon sequestration capacity of peatlands. Rewetting can help to restore vegetation communities and biodiversity, while still allowing for extensive agricultural management such as paludiculture. Belowground processes governing carbon fluxes and greenhouse gas dynamics are mediated by a complex network of microbial communities and processes. Our understanding of this complexity and its multi-factorial controls in rewetted peatlands is limited. Here, we summarize the research regarding the role of soil microbial communities and functions in driving carbon and nutrient cycling in rewetted peatlands including the use of molecular biology techniques in understanding biogeochemical processes linked to greenhouse gas fluxes. We emphasize that rapidly advancing molecular biology approaches, such as high-throughput sequencing, are powerful tools helping to elucidate the dynamics of key biogeochemical processes when combined with isotope tracing and greenhouse gas measuring techniques. Insights gained from the gathered studies can help inform efficient monitoring practices for rewetted peatlands and the development of climate-smart restoration and management strategies.
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Dry and wet periods determine stem and soil greenhouse gas fluxes in a northern drained peatland forest
(Science of The Total Environment, 2024) Ranniku, Reti; Mander, Ülo; Escuer-Gatius, Jordi; Schindler, Thomas; Kupper, Priit; Sellin, Arne; Soosaar, Kaido
Greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from peatland soils are relatively well studied, whereas tree stem fluxes have received far less attention. Simultaneous year-long measurements of soil and tree stem GHG fluxes in northern peatland forests are scarce, as previous studies have primarily focused on the growing season. We determined the seasonal dynamics of tree stem and soil CH4, N2O and CO2 fluxes in a hemiboreal drained peatland forest. Gas samples for flux calculations were manually collected from chambers at different heights on Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) and Norway Spruce (Picea abies) trees (November 2020–December 2021) and analysed using gas chromatography. Environmental parameters were measured simultaneously with fluxes and xylem sap flow was recorded during the growing season. Birch stems played a greater role in the annual GHG dynamics than spruce stems. Birch stems were net annual CH4, N2O and CO2 sources, while spruce stems constituted a CH4 and CO2 source but a N2O sink. Soil was a net CO2 and N2O source, but a sink of CH4. Temporal dynamics of stem CH4 and N2O fluxes were driven by isolated emissions' peaks that contributed significantly to net annual fluxes. Stem CO2 efflux followed a seasonal trend coinciding with tree growth phenology. Stem CH4 dynamics were significantly affected by the changes between wetter and drier periods, while N2O was more influenced by short-term changes in soil hydrologic conditions. We showed that CH4 emitted from tree stems during the wetter period can offset nearly half of the soil sink capacity. We presented for the first time the relationship between tree stem GHG fluxes and sap flow in a peatland forest. The net CH4 flux was likely an aggregate of soil-derived and stem-produced CH4. A dominating soil source was more evident for stem N2O fluxes.
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Greening of a boreal rich fen driven by CO2 fertilisation
(Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2024) Thayamkottu, Sandeep; Smallman, T. Luke; Pärn, Jaan; Mander, Ülo; Euskirchen, Eugénie S.; Kane, Evan S.
Boreal peatlands store vast amounts of soil organic carbon (C) owing to the imbalance between productivity and decay rates. In the recent decades, this carbon stock has been exposed to a warming climate. During the past decade alone, the Arctic has warmed by ∼ 0.75°C which is almost twice the rate of the global average. Although, a wide range of studies have assessed peatlands’ C cycling, our understanding of the factors governing source / sink dynamics of peatland C stock under a warming climate remains a critical uncertainty at site, regional, and global scales. Here our focus was on answering two key questions: (1) What drives the interannual variability of carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes at the Bonanza Creek rich fen in Alaska, and (2) What are the internal carbon allocation patterns during the study years? We addressed these knowledge-gaps using an intermediate complexity terrestrial ecosystem model calibrated by a Bayesian model-data fusion framework at a weekly timestep with publicly available eddy covariance, satellite-based earth observation, and in-situ datasets for 2014 to 2020. We found that the greening trend (a relative increase of leaf area index ∼0.12 m2 m-2 by 2020) in the fen ecosystem is forced by a CO2 fertilisation effect which in combination resulted in increased gross primary production (GPP). Relative to 2014, GPP increased by ∼75 gC m-2 year-1 (by 2020; 95% confidence interval (CI): -41.35 gC m-2 year-1 to 213.55 gC m-2 year-1) while heterotrophic respiration stayed constant. Consistent with the observed greening, our analysis indicates that the ecosystem allocated more C to foliage (∼50%) over the structural (A carbon pool consisting of branches, stems and coarse roots; ∼30%) and fine root C pools (∼20%).
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Mature riparian alder forest acts as a strong and consistent carbon sink
(2025) Krasnova, Alisa; Soosaar, Kaido; Rogozin, Svyatoslav; Krasnov, Dmitrii; Mander, Ülo
Alder forests are widely spread across Northern Hemisphere, frequently occupying riparian buffer zones and playing a key role in enhancing soil fertility through symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Despite their ecological significance, studies on carbon (C) and water (H2O) exchange in alder forests remain scarce, particularly in the context of hydroclimatic variability and extreme weather events. In this study, we used eddy-covariance flux measurements from three contrasting years to assess the C balance and H2O exchange of a mature riparian grey alder forest in the hemiboreal zone in Estonia. The site was a strong and consistent carbon sink with annual net ecosystem exchange (NEE) ranging from -496 to -663 g C m⁻² y⁻¹, gross primary production (GPP) from -1258 to -1420 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ and ecosystem respiration (ER) from 595 to 923 g C m⁻² y⁻¹. Evapotranspiration (ET) varied from 194 to 342 kg H2O m⁻² y⁻¹ and ecosystem water use efficiency (EWUE) was 4.2 – 6.5 g C kg H2O-1. The drought and heatwave year (2018) featured the highest net carbon uptake, driven by an increase in GPP during spring and a reduction in ER during late summer and autumn. A minor impact of drought on GPP combined with a 35 % reduction in ET in 2018 lead to peak values of EWUE in response to H2O limitation. In 2019, we found no evidence of a short-term drought legacy effect, as carbon exchange components recovered to the 2017 levels and ET was the highest out of years. Given that this forest is beyond the typical harvestable age, its strong and consistent carbon sequestration, combined with high short-term resilience, provides valuable insights for sustainable forest management. These findings highlight the potential of riparian grey alder forests to maintain productivity under hydroclimatic variability, reinforcing their role in regional carbon cycling as a part of natural climate mitigation solutions.
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N transformations in nitrate-rich groundwaters: combined isotope and microbial approach
(2025) Deb, Sushmita; Espenberg, Mikk; Well, Reinhard; Bucha, Michał; Jakubiak, Marta; Mander, Ülo; Jędrysek, Mariusz-Orion; Lewicka-Szczebak, Dominika
This study explores nitrogen transformations in groundwater from an agricultural area utilizing organic fertilizer (wastewater from yeast production) by integrating isotope analysis, microbial gene abundance, and the isotope FRactionation And Mixing Evaluation (FRAME) model to trace and quantify nitrogen cycling pathways. Groundwater samples with elevated nitrate concentrations were subjected to controlled laboratory incubations with application of a novel low-level 15N tracing strategy to investigate microbial processes. Isotope analyses of nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide (N2O), coupled with microbial gene quantification via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), revealed a shift from archaeal-driven nitrification to bacterial denitrification in post-incubation suboxic conditions, stimulated by glucose addition. FRAME modelling further identified bacterial denitrification as the dominant pathway of N2O production, which was supported by increased nosZI, nirK, and nirS gene abundance and observed isotope effects. Simultaneously with the intensive nitrate reduction, it was observed that the majority of nitrite is likely produced through nitrification processes linked to dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) oxidation. Nitrate reduction had a minor contribution to the total nitrite pool. The results demonstrate the efficacy of integrating multi-compound isotope studies and microbial analyses to unravel nitrogen cycling mechanisms. This approach provides a robust framework for addressing nitrogen pollution in groundwater systems and improving water quality management strategies.
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Springtime soil and tree stem greenhouse gas fluxes and the related soil microbiome pattern in a drained peatland forest
(2025) Ranniku, Reti; Kazmi, Fahad Ali; Espenberg, Mikk; Truupõld, Joosep; Escuer‑Gatius, Jordi; Mander, Ülo; Soosaar, Kaido
Spring can be a critical time of year for stem and soil methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as soil freeze–thaw events can be hot moments of gas release. Greenhouse gas fluxes from soil, Downy birch (Betula pubescens) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) stems were quantified using chamber systems and gas analysers in spring 2023 in a northern drained peatland forest. Dissolved gas concentrations in birch sap and soil water, environmental parameters, soil chemistry, and functional gene abundances in the soil were determined. During spring, initially low soil and stem CH4, N2O, and CO2 emissions increased towards late April. Temperature emerged as the primary driver of soil and stem fluxes, alongside photosynthetically active radiation influencing stem fluxes. Soil hydrologic conditions had minimal short-term impact. No clear evidence linked stem CH4 emissions to birch sap gas concentrations, while relationships existed for CO2. Functional gene abundances of the N and CH4-cycles changed between measurement days. Potential for methanogenesis and complete denitrification was higher under elevated soil water content, shifting to methanotrophy and incomplete denitrification as the study progressed. However, our results highlight the need for further analysis of relationships between microbial cycles and GHG fluxes under different environmental conditions, including identifying soil microbial processes in soil layers where tree roots absorb water.
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Interactions of fertilisation and crop productivity in soil nitrogen cycle microbiome and gas emissions
(2025) Kuusemets, Laura; Mander, Ülo; Escuer-Gatius, Jordi; Astover, Alar; Kauer, Karin; Soosaar, Kaido; Espenberg, Mikk
Fertilised soils are a significant source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a highly active greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone depleter. Nitrogen (N) fertilisers, while boosting crop yield, also lead to N2O emissions into the atmosphere, impacting global warming. We investigated relationships between mineral N fertilisation rates and additional manure amendment with different crop types through the analysis of abundances of N cycle functional genes, soil N2O and N2 emissions, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), soil physicochemical analysis and biomass production. Our study indicates that N2O emissions are predominantly dependent on the mineral N fertilisation rate and enhance with an increased mineral N fertilisation rate. Crop type also has a significant impact on soil N2O emissions. Higher N2O emissions were attained with the application of manure in comparison to mineral fertilisation. Manure amendment also increased the number of N cycle genes that are significant in the variations of N2O. The study indicates that N2O emissions were mainly related to nitrification in the soil. Quantification of nitrogen cycle functional genes also showed the potential role of denitrification, comammox (complete ammonia oxidation) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) processes as a source of N2O. Our study did not find soil moisture to be significantly linked to N2O emissions. The results of the study provide evidence that, for wheat, a fertilisation rate of 80 kg N ha−1 is closest to the optimal rate for balancing biomass yield and N2O emissions and achieving a high NUE. Sorghum showed good potential for cultivation in temperate climates, as it showed a similar biomass yield compared to the other crop types and fertilisation rates but maintained low N2O emissions and N losses in a mineral N fertilisation rate of 80 kg N ha−1.
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Greenhouse gas emissions from ditches in oil palm plantations on tropical peatlands in Malaysia
(2025) Kasak, Kuno; Dronova, Iryna; Soosaar, Kaido; Melling, Lulie; Xhuan, Wong Guan; Sangok, Faustina; Ranniku, Reti; Villa, Jorge A.; Bansal, Sheel; Peacock, Michael; Mander, Ülo
Tropical peatlands, which store 20% of global peat carbon, are increasingly threatened by conversion to alternative land-uses such as oil palm plantations, pulp wood plantations, crop growth or other economic activities. This transformation involves peatland drainage, which lowers water tables, exposes peat to oxygen, and alters greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes while reducing methane (CH4) emissions from soils. However, drainage ditches created in the process may become significant sources of CH4 due to anoxic conditions. This study quantified GHG fluxes from drainage ditches in Sarawak, Malaysia, through spatial sampling conducted during the daytime in the transitional period between the drier and wetter seasons using portable trace gas analyzers. Median fluxes were 0.19 g CH4 m−2 d−1, 17.1 g CO2 m−2 d−1, and − 0.12 mg N2O m−2 d−1. Physical water parameters such as pH, oxygen concentration, temperature, and oxidation–reduction potential were found to be significant drivers of GHG fluxes. The median emissions from ditches in one hectare of land were 5.84 kg CO2 ha−1 d−1, 2.78 kg CH4 as CO2 eq ha−1 d−1, and − 0.001 kg N2O as CO2 eq ha−1 d−1. These findings underscore the role of drainage ditches as CH4 sources in tropical peatland agriculture, highlighting the need for further research into GHG management in these modified landscapes.
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Soil moisture and microbiome explain greenhouse gas exchange in global peatlands
(Scientific Reports, 2025) Pärn, Jaan; Thayamkottu, Sandeep; Öpik, Maarja; Bahram, Mohammad; Tedersoo, Leho; Espenberg, Mikk; Davison, John Alexander; Kasak, Kuno; Maddison, Martin; Niinemets, Ülo; Ostonen, Ivika; Soosaar, Kaido; Sohar, Kristina; Zobel, Martin; Mander, Ülo
Earth's climate is tightly connected to carbon and nitrogen exchange between the atmosphere and ecosystems. Wet peatland ecosystems take up carbon dioxide in plants and accumulate organic carbon in soil but release methane. Man-made drainage releases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from peat soils. Carbon and nitrous gas exchange and their relationships with environmental conditions are poorly understood. Here, we show that open peatlands in both their wet and dry extremes are greenhouse gas sinks while peat carbon/nitrogen ratios are high and prokaryotic (bacterial and archaeal) abundances are low. Conversely, peatlands with moderate soil moisture levels emit carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, while prokaryotic abundances are high. The results challenge the current assumption of a uniform effect of drainage on greenhouse gas emissions and show that the peat microbiome of greenhouse-gas sources differs fundamentally from sinks.
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Importance of N2O in greenhouse gas budgets of tropical peatlands
(Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2025) Pärn, Jaan; Espenberg, Mikk; Soosaar, Kaido; Kasak, Kuno; Thayamkottu, Sandeep; Schindler, Thomas; Ranniku, Reti; Sohar, Kristina; Mander, Ülo; Melling, Lulie; Malaverri, Lizardo Fachín
Tropical peatland ecosystems significantly influence Earth’s climate through their greenhouse gas exchange. Permanently wet peatlands take up carbon dioxide in plants and accumulate organic carbon in soil but release methane. Man-made drainage of peat releases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Exchange of the greenhouse gases in relationship with tropical conditions are poorly understood. This is a global-scale field study of fluxes of three greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – and their environmental drivers across the full moisture range of tropical peatlands. We show that net emission of carbon dioxide dominates greenhouse gas budgets in drained tropical peatlands while nitrous oxide emission is the second most important contributor. Tropical peat swamp forests in their natural wet states are large greenhouse gas sinks and should be a global conservation and restoration priority.
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A comprehensive porewater survey of European peatlands reveals sustained elevated phosphorus levels after 10–20 years of rewetting
(2025) Krishnankutty, Nimisha; Gelbrecht, Jörg; Petersen, Rasmus Jes; Rayner, Dylan; Lau, Maximilian P.; Frank, Stefan; Andersen, Roxane; Pärn, Jaan; Mander, Ülo; Hoffmann, Carl C.; Mäenpää, Maarit I.; Goldhammer, Tobias; Kull, Ain; Florea, Adrian-Florin; Zak, Dominik
Rewetting drained peatlands can lead to high nutrient mobilization, increased methane emissions, and a slow re-establishment of peat-forming vegetation. To guide effective restoration and management, understanding the temporal and spatial variability in porewater chemistry is essential. This study surveyed 64 natural and rewetted peatlands across Germany, Poland, Estonia, Sweden, Georgia, and Scotland from 1997 to 2017. A total of 812 anoxic porewater samples were collected using dialysis samplers (0–0.6 m depth). The rewetted fens exhibited a wide range of dissolved substances, spanning orders of magnitude for soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP: 0.1–18.9 mg L−1), ammonium (NH4+-N: 0.1–117.3 mg L−1), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC: 13–313 mg L−1). However, the mean concentrations were significantly higher than those observed in natural fens (p < 0.05). Depth-integrated mobilization rates for nutrients in rewetted fens were, on average, 23 times higher for SRP (1.8 mg P m−2 d-1) and 4.6 times higher for NH4+-N (3.6 mg N m−2 d-1) compared to their natural counterparts (0.1 mg P m−2 d-1 and 0.8 mg N m−2 d-1). Seasonal variation was also evident in rewetted fens densely colonized by helophytes, with SRP concentrations being lower in the growing season. Notably, SRP concentrations remained elevated 10–20 years after rewetting; however, a 50–80 % decrease was observed at sites characterized by comparatively low iron content in the peat (< 20 mg g−1 dry mass). Further investigations should explore how nutrient dynamics evolve over extended rewetting periods in different contexts, including climate change.
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Temporal and spatial dynamics of microbial communities and greenhouse gas flux responses to experimental flooding in riparian forest soils
(2025) Reiss, Kristel; Mander, Ülo; Öpik, Maarja; Sepp, Siim-Kaarel; Kanger, Kärt; Schindler, Thomas; Soosaar, Kaido; Pihlatie, Mari; Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus; Putkinen, Anuliina; Niinemets, Ülo; Espenberg, Mikk
Extreme rainfall and flooding are expected to increase in Northern subboreal habitats, altering soil hydrology and impacting greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes by shifting redox potential and microbial communities as soils transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions. This study examined the effects of a 2-week growing-season flash flood on bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities and microbial processes driving CH4 and N2O fluxes in riparian alder (Alnus incana) forests. Flooding reduced soil nitrate accumulation as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and promoted dinitrogen-fixing, nifH gene-carrying bacteria like Geomonas. Sequencing data showed that anaerobic bacteria (Oleiharenicola, Pelotalea) increased during the flood, while N2O emissions declined, indicating a shift towards complete denitrification to N2. However, drier patches within the flooded area emitted N2O, suggesting nitrification or incomplete denitrification. A diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal community was detected, including genera Acaulospora, Archaeospora, Claroideoglomus, Diversispora, and Paraglomus. Flooding increased the abundance of the fungal genera Naucoria, Russula, and Tomentella and the family Thelephoraceae, which symbiotically support alder trees in nitrogen uptake and carbon sequestration. Microtopographic differences of 0.3–0.7 m created spatial variability in GHG emissions during flooding, with some waterlogged areas emitting CH4, while others enhanced CH4 oxidation (determined by FAPROTAX) and promoted nitrification-driven N2O emissions in drier, elevated zones. We conclude that flash flooding during the active growing season significantly affects nitrogen-fixing and nitrifying microbes and alters symbiotic fungal community composition, creating spatial variability in GHG emissions.
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Human-Impacted Natural Ecosystems Drive Climate Warming
(2025) Mander, Ülo; Pärn, Jaan; Espenberg, Mikk; Peñuelas, Josep
Current greenhouse gas budgets do not account for most indirect anthropogenic impacts. In this perspective, we call for attention to greenhouse gas fluxes from human-impacted natural ecosystems and their mitigation measures. The article highlights the increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from natural ecosystems, including CO2, CH4, and N2O. These emissions are becoming significant drivers of global warming, surpassing those from fossil fuel combustion. We introduce the concept of "anthro-natural emissions" on the example of peatlands, referring to emissions from natural ecosystems indirectly impacted by human activities. The concept helps bridge the gap between natural and anthropogenic impacts, providing a more comprehensive understanding of GHG emissions. Anthro-natural emissions are expected to rise as climate warming progresses, contributing to the overall GHG balance. Peatlands, which store approximately 30% of the world's soil carbon, are under increasing pressure from climate warming and human activities. The article emphasizes the importance of addressing both natural and human-impacted ecosystems to mitigate climate change effectively. Increasingly frequent droughts are identified as a major threat to global terrestrial ecosystems, particularly wetlands. The drying of wetlands challenges their capacity to act as carbon sinks and alters their roles in climate regulation. The insights provided are essential for developing effective adaptation strategies relying on soil carbon sequestration as a long-term solution against climate warming. According to our study, the proportion of natural, anthro-natural, and directly disturbed peatlands is approximately 40-20-40, and the ratio is increasing towards anthro-natural peatlands. We highlight a change of paradigm for assessing the importance of different GHG sources. Further, it highlights the need for conservation and restoration of peatlands and renaturalization of forest ecosystems.
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Dual controls of vapour pressure deficit and soil moisture on photosynthesis in a restored temperate bog
(Science of The Total Environment, 2025) Thayamkottu, Sandeep; Masta, Mohit; Skeeter, June; Pärn, Jaan; Knox, Sara H.; Smallman, T. Luke; Mander, Ülo
Despite only covering ~3 % of the land mass, peatlands store more carbon (C) per unit area than any other ecosystem. This is due to the discrepancy between C fixed by the plants (Gross primary productivity (GPP)) and decomposition. However, this C is vulnerable to frequent, severe droughts and changes in the peatland microclimate. Plants play a vital role in ecosystem C dynamics under drought by mediating water loss to the atmosphere (surface water vapour conductance) and GPP by the presence/absence of stomatal regulation. This is dependent on soil moisture, air temperature, and vapour pressure deficit (VPD). Although there is ample evidence of the role of VPD on stomatal regulation and GPP, the impact of soil moisture is still debated. We addressed this knowledge gap by investigating the role of bulk surface conductance of water vapour in shifts between climatic (Air temperature (Tair), incoming shortwave radiation (SWR) and VPD) and water limitation of GPP in a peat bog in Canada. A causal analysis process was used to investigate how environmental factors influenced GPP. The results suggested that stomatal regulation in response to increased VPD caused the reduction in GPP in 2016 (~2.5 gC m−2 day−1 as opposed to ~3 gC m−2 day−1 in 2018). In contrast, GPP was limited again in 2019 due to the dry surface. This was driven by the relaxed stomatal regulation adopted by the ecosystem following the initial drought to maximise C assimilation. We found the threshold at which surface water decline limited GPP was at about −8 cm water table depth (82.5 % soil moisture). The causal inference corroborated our findings. The temporal variations of water and energy limitation seen in this study could increasingly restrict GPP due to the projected climate warming.
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Global peatland greenhouse gas dynamics: state of the art, processes, and perspectives
(New Phytologist, 2025) Mander, Ülo; Öpik, Maarja; Espenberg, Mikk
Natural peatlands regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes through a permanently high groundwater table, causing carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation but methane (CH4) emissions due to anaerobic conditions. By contrast, drained and disturbed peatlands are hotspots for CO2 and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, while CH4 release is low but high from drainage ditches. Generally, in low-latitude (tropical and subtropical) peatlands, emissions of all GHGs are higher than in high-latitude (temperate, boreal, and Arctic) peatlands. Their inherent dependence on the water regime makes peatlands highly vulnerable to both direct and indirect anthropogenic impacts, including climate change-induced drying, which is creating anthro-natural ecosystems. This paper presents state-of-the-art knowledge on peatland GHG fluxes and their key regulating processes, highlighting approaches to study spatio-temporal dynamics, integrated methods, direct and indirect human impacts, and peatlands' perspectives.

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