Phosphorus supply affects long-term carbon accumulation in mid-latitude ombrotrophic peatlands
Ny artikel i Communications Earth & Environment med Sjöström, J. och Kylander, M. som co-authors
Abstrakten är på engelska
Abstract
Ombrotrophic peatlands are a globally important carbon store and depend on atmospheric nutrient deposition to balance ecosystem productivity and microbial decomposition. Human activities have increased atmospheric nutrient fluxes, but the impacts of variability in phosphorus supply on carbon sequestration in ombrotrophic peatlands are unclear. Here, we synthesise phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon stoichiometric data in the surface and deeper layers of mid-latitude Sphagnum-dominated peatlands across Europe, North America and Chile. We find that long-term elevated phosphorus deposition and accumulation strongly correlate with increased organic matter decomposition and lower carbon accumulation in the catotelm. This contrasts with literature that finds short-term increases in phosphorus supply stimulates rapid carbon accumulation, suggesting phosphorus deposition imposes a threshold effect on net ecosystem productivity and carbon burial. We suggest phosphorus supply is an important, but overlooked, factor governing long-term carbon storage in ombrotrophic peatlands, raising the prospect that post-industrial phosphorus deposition may degrade this carbon sink.
Schillereff, D.N., Chiverrell, R.C., Sjöström, J.K., Kylander, M.E., Boyle, J.F., Davies, J.A.C.,Toberman, H. & Tipping, E., 2021. Phosphorus supply affects long-term carbon accumulation in mid-latitude ombrotrophic peatlands. Communications Earth & Environment: 2, 241.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00316-2
Senast uppdaterad: 25 november 2021
Sidansvarig: Institutionen för geologiska vetenskaper