Importance of vegetation properties and redox potential to CH4 flux at a boreal fen

• Main Author: Finne, Hanna
• Other Authors: Helsingin yliopisto, Bio- ja ympäristötieteellinen tiedekunta, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Helsingfors universitet, Bio- och miljövetenskapliga fakulteten
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Helsingin yliopisto 2020
• Subjects: Methane; boreal mires; vegetation; redox potential; climate change; Ekologian ja evoluutiobiologian maisteriohjelma; Master's Programme in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Magisterprogrammet i ekologi och evolutionsbiologi; ei opintosuuntaa; no specialization; ingen studieinriktning; Sodankylä; Gam
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/317443

Boreal mires are natural sources of methane and contribute considerably to the global methane budget. Therefore, in order to comprehend the overall impact that these ecosystems have on climate change, it is essential to understand the factors that influence processes involved in methane production and consumption. Factors affecting methane flux vary between different mires, but there is also great spatial and temporal variation in flux within mires. In previous studies, temperature and water table position have been shown to influence methane flux, but vegetation could aid in explaining the small-scale variation. Vegetation can indicate spatial variation in water table position, but also affect methane flux directly by the transportation of methane through plant tissues, and by providing substrate for microorganisms through primary production. Furthermore, redox potential is a poorly studied factor that can reflect if chemical conditions in peat are suitable for methane production or consumption, making it a useful tool in predicting methane flux. In this thesis, I seek to identify if small-scale spatial variation in the methane flux occurs within the studied mire area. In addition, I strive to identify important controllers of the observed spatiotemporal variation in methane flux, with a specific focus on the effect of vegetation properties and redox potential. Methane and carbon dioxide fluxes were measured with the closed chamber technique at a boreal fen in Sodankylä (67°22'06.6"N 26°39'16.0"E) during the growing season in 2019. Flux measurements were carried out at nine measurement plots belonging to three different vegetation types: flark, lawn and string. Coverage and height of plant functional groups were followed during the summer and continuous redox potential was measured for each plot. CH4 fluxes of different plots and vegetation types were compared to study the spatial variation in methane flux. Generalized additive models (GAM) were used to determine which variables are best to explain ...