Controls on methane concentrations and fluxes in streams draining human-dominated landscapes
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Abstract
Streams and rivers are active processors of carbon, leading to significant emissions of CO2 and possibly CH4 to the atmosphere. Patterns and controls of CH4 in fluvial ecosystems remain relatively poorly understood. Furthermore, little is known regarding how major human impacts to fluvial ecosystems may be transforming their role as CH4 producers and emitters. Here, we examine the consequences of two distinct ecosystem changes as a result of human land use: increased nutrient loading (primarily as nitrate), and increased sediment loading and deposition of fine particles in the benthic zone. We did not find support for the hypothesis that enhanced nitrate loading down-regulates methane production via thermodynamic or toxic effects. We did find strong evidence that increased sedimentation and enhanced organic matter content of the benthos lead to greater methane production (diffusive + ebullitive flux) relative to pristine fluvial systems in northern Wisconsin (upper Midwest, USA). Overall, streams in a human-dominated landscape of southern Wisconsin were major regional sources of CH4 to the atmosphere, equivalent to ~20% of dairy cattle emissions, or ~50% of a landfill’s annual emissions. We suggest that restoration of the benthic environment (reduced fine deposits) could lead to reduced CH4 emissions, while decreasing nutrient loading is likely to have limited impacts to this ecosystem process.
Study Area
Publication type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Title | Controls on methane concentrations and fluxes in streams draining human-dominated landscapes |
Series title | Ecological Applications |
DOI | 10.1890/15-1330 |
Volume | 26 |
Issue | 5 |
Year Published | 2016 |
Language | English |
Publisher | Ecological Society of America |
Contributing office(s) | National Research Program - Central Branch |
Description | 11 p. |
First page | 1581 |
Last page | 1591 |
Country | United States |
State | Wisconsin |
County | Dane |
Online Only (Y/N) | N |
Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |