Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland
Litter decomposition, a key process by which recently fixed carbon is lost from ecosystems, is a function of environmental conditions and plant community characteristics. In ice-rich peatlands, permafrost thaw introduces high variability in both abiotic and biotic factors, both of which may affect l...
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ftsmithonian:oai:figshare.com:article/5904655 2023-05-15T16:36:47+02:00 Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland Avni Malhotra (4866175) Tim R. Moore (4866172) Juul Limpens (535589) Nigel T. Roulet (4866169) 2018-04-09T05:07:48Z https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5904655.v3 unknown https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Post-thaw_variability_in_litter_decomposition_best_explained_by_microtopography_at_an_ice-rich_permafrost_peatland/5904655 doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5904655.v3 CC BY 4.0 CC-BY Ecology Sociology Plant Biology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Discontinuous permafrost zone litter decomposition microtopography peatland permafrost thaw Text Journal contribution 2018 ftsmithonian https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5904655.v3 2022-01-06T11:54:04Z Litter decomposition, a key process by which recently fixed carbon is lost from ecosystems, is a function of environmental conditions and plant community characteristics. In ice-rich peatlands, permafrost thaw introduces high variability in both abiotic and biotic factors, both of which may affect litter decomposition rates in different ways. Can the existing conceptual frameworks of litter decomposition and its controls be applied across a structurally heterogeneous thaw gradient? We investigated the variability in litter decomposition and its predictors at the Stordalen subarctic peatland in northern Sweden. We measured in situ decomposition of representative litter and environments using litter bags throughout two years. We found highly variable litter decomposition rates with turnover times ranging from five months to four years. Surface elevation was a strong correlate of litter decomposition across the landscape, likely as it integrates multiple environmental and plant community changes brought about by thaw. There was faster decomposition but also more mass remaining after two years in thawed areas relative to permafrost areas, suggesting faster initial loss of carbon but more storage into the slow-decomposing carbon pool. Our results highlight mechanisms and predictors of carbon cycle changes in ice-rich peatlands following permafrost thaw. Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper Ice Northern Sweden permafrost Subarctic Unknown Stordalen ENVELOPE(7.337,7.337,62.510,62.510) |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Unknown |
op_collection_id |
ftsmithonian |
language |
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topic |
Ecology Sociology Plant Biology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Discontinuous permafrost zone litter decomposition microtopography peatland permafrost thaw |
spellingShingle |
Ecology Sociology Plant Biology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Discontinuous permafrost zone litter decomposition microtopography peatland permafrost thaw Avni Malhotra (4866175) Tim R. Moore (4866172) Juul Limpens (535589) Nigel T. Roulet (4866169) Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland |
topic_facet |
Ecology Sociology Plant Biology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Discontinuous permafrost zone litter decomposition microtopography peatland permafrost thaw |
description |
Litter decomposition, a key process by which recently fixed carbon is lost from ecosystems, is a function of environmental conditions and plant community characteristics. In ice-rich peatlands, permafrost thaw introduces high variability in both abiotic and biotic factors, both of which may affect litter decomposition rates in different ways. Can the existing conceptual frameworks of litter decomposition and its controls be applied across a structurally heterogeneous thaw gradient? We investigated the variability in litter decomposition and its predictors at the Stordalen subarctic peatland in northern Sweden. We measured in situ decomposition of representative litter and environments using litter bags throughout two years. We found highly variable litter decomposition rates with turnover times ranging from five months to four years. Surface elevation was a strong correlate of litter decomposition across the landscape, likely as it integrates multiple environmental and plant community changes brought about by thaw. There was faster decomposition but also more mass remaining after two years in thawed areas relative to permafrost areas, suggesting faster initial loss of carbon but more storage into the slow-decomposing carbon pool. Our results highlight mechanisms and predictors of carbon cycle changes in ice-rich peatlands following permafrost thaw. |
format |
Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Avni Malhotra (4866175) Tim R. Moore (4866172) Juul Limpens (535589) Nigel T. Roulet (4866169) |
author_facet |
Avni Malhotra (4866175) Tim R. Moore (4866172) Juul Limpens (535589) Nigel T. Roulet (4866169) |
author_sort |
Avni Malhotra (4866175) |
title |
Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland |
title_short |
Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland |
title_full |
Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland |
title_fullStr |
Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland |
title_full_unstemmed |
Post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland |
title_sort |
post-thaw variability in litter decomposition best explained by microtopography at an ice-rich permafrost peatland |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5904655.v3 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(7.337,7.337,62.510,62.510) |
geographic |
Stordalen |
geographic_facet |
Stordalen |
genre |
Ice Northern Sweden permafrost Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Ice Northern Sweden permafrost Subarctic |
op_relation |
https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Post-thaw_variability_in_litter_decomposition_best_explained_by_microtopography_at_an_ice-rich_permafrost_peatland/5904655 doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5904655.v3 |
op_rights |
CC BY 4.0 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5904655.v3 |
_version_ |
1766027114677534720 |