Year: 2006
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: The impact of high levels of nitrogen deposition from the atmosphere (primarily from the \ncombustion of fossil fuels and transportation) on soil carbon fluxes and carbon \nsequestration pathways in peatlands are uncertain and limit our understanding of its \nconsequence on peatlands’ role as global carbon sinks. An alteration in peatlands’ natural \ncarbon accumulation process could result in the increased release of CO2 into the \natmosphere, potentially increasing the greenhouse effect and contributing to climate \nchange. \nRecent studies in forest soils have shown that high concentrations of inorganic nitrogen \naccelerate the activity of key soil enzymes involved in the degradation of easily \ndecomposable litter (low lignin content) but slow down the decomposition of lignin \nabundant litter. Peatland soils are adapted to slow rates of nitrogen mineralization; \ntherefore increasing the nitrogen supply in these environments may have an even deeper \nimpact on litter quality, potential litter decomposability, and overall carbon storage \ncapacity. \nThe aim of this study is to use plant wax biomarkers as proxies of vegetational change in \nlitter profiles. An alkane and alcohol profile database of peatland vegetation is currently \nbeing characterized for comparison with samples taken from the Whim Moss \nexperimental site (Edinburgh) where different levels of nitrogen has been added to \npeatland soil since 2002. A temporal study combining the MicroResp technique \n(community level physiological profiles) and enzyme activity assays is considered to look \nat the effect of litter compositional changes on soil microbial diversity and biological \nactivity. To better understand how nitrogen deposition in peatland soil affects the \nmechanisms controlling carbon storage, the incorporation of stable isotope labelling (13C) \nwould allow direct determination of the fate of carbon into the different carbon pools and \nbetter pin-point the changes in litter composition.
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1737717536