Potential greenhouse gases emissions by different plant communities in maritime Antarctica

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
• Main Authors: FLÁVIA R. FERRARI, ANDRÉ THOMAZINI, ANTONIO B. PEREIRA, KURT SPOKAS, CARLOS E.G.R. SCHAEFER
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic vegetation; climate changes; cryptogamic communities; greenhouse gas production; Science; Q; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202220210602; https://doaj.org/article/ddef13786cf54b41ba84b34efc7265e2

Abstract Antarctic plant communities show a close relationship with soil types across the landscape, where vegetation cover changes, biological influence, and soil characteristics can affect the dynamic of greenhouse gases emissions. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate greenhouse gases emissions in lab conditions of ice-free areas along a topographic gradient (from sea level up to 300 meters). We selected 11 distinct vegetation compositions areas and assessed greenhouse gases production potentials through 20 days of laboratory incubations varying temperatures at -2, 4, 6, and 22 °C. High N2O production potential was associated with the Phanerogamic Community under the strong ornithogenic influence (phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter contents). Seven different areas acted as N2O sink at a temperature of -2 °C, demonstrating the impact of low-temperature conditions contributing to store N in soils. Moss Carpets had the highest CH4 emissions and low CO2 production potential. Fruticose Lichens had a CH4 sink effect and the highest values of CO2. The low rate of organic matter provided the CO2 sink effect on the bare soil (up to 6 °C). There is an overall trend of increasing greenhouse gases production potential with increasing temperature along a toposequence.