The Relative Importance of Methanogenesis in the Decomposition of Organic Matter in Northern Peatlands

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
• Main Authors: Corbett, J. Elizabeth, Tfaily, Malak M., Burdige, David J., Glaser, Paul H., Chanton, Jeffrey P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: ODU Digital Commons 2015
• Subjects: Peatlands; Permafrost; CO2 production; CH4 loss; Bog; Fen; Anaerobic carbon mineralization; Lake Agassiz peatland; Lost River; Peatland; Methane production; Stable Carbon; Pore water; Minnesota; Wetlands; Respiration; Biochemistry; Biogeochemistry; Environmental Sciences; Oceanography; permafrost
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_fac_pubs/78; https://doi.org/10.1002/2014jg002797; https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/context/oeas_fac_pubs/article/1118/viewcontent/Corbett_et_al_2015_Journal_of_Geophysical_Rese.pdf

Using an isotope-mass balance approach and assuming the equimolar production of CO2 and CH4 from methanogenesis (e.g., anaerobic decomposition of cellulose), we calculate that the proportion of total CO2 production from methanogenesis varies from 37 to 83% across a variety of northern peatlands. In...