Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes in a Peat Profile Are Influenced by Early Stage Diagenesis and Changes in Atmospheric CO2 and N Deposition

In this study, we test whether the δ13C and δ15N in a peat profile are, respectively, linked to the recent dilution of atmospheric δ13CO2 caused by increased fossil fuel combustion and changes in atmospheric δ15N deposition. We analysed bulk peat and Sphagnum fuscum branch C and N concentrations and bulk peat, S. fuscum branch and Andromeda polifolia leaf δ13C and δ15N from a 30-cm hummock-like peat profile from an Aapa mire in northern Finland. Statistically significant correlations were found between the dilution of atmospheric δ13CO2 and bulk peat δ13C, as well as between historically increasing wet N deposition and bulk peat δ15N. However, these correlations may be affected by early stage kinetic fractionation during decomposition and possibly other processes. We conclude that bulk peat stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios may reflect the dilution of atmospheric δ13CO2 and the changes in δ15N deposition, but probably also reflect the effects of early stage kinetic fractionation during diagenesis. This needs to be taken into account when interpreting palaeodata. There is a need for further studies of δ15N profiles in sufficiently old dated cores from sites with different rates of decomposition: These would facilitate more reliable separation of depositional δ15N from patterns caused by other processes

The form of reactive nitrogen deposition affects the capacity of peatland vegetation to immobilise nitrogen: implications for the provision of ecosystem services

Peatlands represent significant carbon (C) reserves accumulated over millennia, as a consequence of slow decomposition rates conditioned by the acidity and anoxia that define these ecosystems. Such conditions are maintained largely through climate but also the activities of peatland ‘engineers’, vegetation such as Sphagnum mosses. Peatlands are hugely valued for C sequestration and the distinct communities they support. However, increased nitrogen (N) availability, from anthropogenic deposition, has been linked to detrimental changes in the vitality of Sphagnum and species active in perpetuating peatland processes. The effects of manipulating the form and dose of N to an ombrotrophic peatland, Whim bog in the Scottish Borders, UK, have been studied since 2002. Ammonia is provided by free air release, in response to wind direction and wind speed, and wet deposition, comprising nitrate or ammonium, in response to rainfall. Manipulation has increased the background deposition of 8 kg N ha−1 year−1 by 2, 4 and 8 times. Responses to the different N forms in terms of species cover, importance of component species in maintaining low nutrient availability through N immobilisation and the implications of breakdown in vegetative cover and species replacement for peatland function are discussed in relation to N fluxes. All forms of N were not equally detrimental: ammonia deposition significantly reduced the vegetative cover, removing the sink for N, leading to increased nitrate in soil pore water and nitrous oxide emission whereas effects of wet N deposition, though still detrimental, were more modest. Nitrogen driven reductions in the cover of the keystone Sphagnum species and other characteristic mosses and their ability to immobilise incoming N can affect soil chemistry and lead to changes that could compromise C sequestration

Climatic modifiers of the response to nitrogen deposition in peat-forming Sphagnum mosses: a meta-analysis

Peatlands in the northern hemisphere have accumulated more atmospheric carbon (C) during the Holocene than any other terrestrial ecosystem, making peatlands long-term C sinks of global importance. Projected increases in nitrogen (N) deposition and temperature make future accumulation rates uncertain.•Here, we assessed the impact of N deposition on peatland C sequestration potential by investigating the effects of experimental N addition on Sphagnum moss. We employed meta-regressions to the results of 107 field experiments, accounting for sampling dependence in the data.•We found that high N loading (comprising N application rate, experiment duration, background N deposition) depressed Sphagnum production relative to untreated controls. The interactive effects of presence of competitive vascular plants and high tissue N concentrations indicated intensified biotic interactions and altered nutrient stochiometry as mechanisms underlying the detrimental N effects. Importantly, a higher summer temperature (mean for July) and increasedannual precipitation intensified the negative effects of N. The temperature effect was comparable to an experimental application of almost 4 g N m−2 yr−1 for each 1°C increase.•Our results indicate that current rates of N deposition in a warmer environment will strongly inhibit C sequestration by Sphagnum-dominated vegetation

Climatic modifiers of the response to N deposition in peat-forming Sphagnum mosses: a meta-analysis

Peatlands in the northern hemisphere have accumulated more atmospheric C during the Holocene than any other terrestrial ecosystem, making peatlands longterm C sinks of global importance. Projected increases in N deposition and temperature make future accumulation rates uncertain. We assessed the impact of N deposition on peatland C sequestration potential by investigating the effects of experimental N addition on Sphagnum moss. We employed meta-regressions to the results of 107 field experiments, accounting for sampling dependence in the data. We found that high N loading (comprising N application rate, experiment duration, background N deposition) depressed Sphagnum production relative to untreated controls. The interactive effects of presence of competitive vascular plants and high tissue N concentrations indicated intensified biotic interactions and altered nutrient stochiometry as mechanisms underlying the detrimental N effects. Importantly, a higher summer temperature (mean for July) and increased annual precipitation intensified the negative effects of N. The temperature effect was comparable to an experimental application of almost 4 g N m-2 year-1 for each 1 oC increase. 91 · Our results indicate that current rates of N deposition in a warmer environment 92 will strongly inhibit C sequestration by Sphagnum-dominated vegetation

Glasshouse vs field experiments: do they yield ecologically similar results for assessing N impacts on peat mosses?

• Peat bogs have accumulated more atmospheric carbon (C) than any other terrestrial ecosystem today. Most of this C is associated with peat moss (Sphagnum) litter. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can decrease Sphagnum production, compromising the C sequestration capacity of peat bogs. The mechanisms underlying the reduced production are uncertain, necessitating multifactorial experiments. • We investigated whether glasshouse experiments are reliable proxies for field experiments for assessing interactions between N deposition and environment as controls on Sphagnum N concentration and production. We performed a meta-analysis over 115 glasshouse experiments and 107 field experiments. • We found that glasshouse and field experiments gave similar qualitative and quantitative estimates of changes in Sphagnum N concentration in response to N application. However, glasshouse-based estimates of changes in production – even qualitative assessments – diverged from field experiments owing to a stronger N effect on production response in absence of vascular plants in the glasshouse, and a weaker N effect on production response in presence of vascular plants compared to field experiments. • Thus, although we need glasshouse experiments to study how interacting environmental factors affect the response of Sphagnum to increased N deposition, we need field experiments to properly quantify these effects