Objective
To experimentally enrich with CO2 and N representative peatmoss bog ecosystems at five climatically different sites across Europe, with the aim to study the effects of elevated CO2 and D deposition on the net exchange of C gases (CO2 and CH4) between bogs and the atmosphere. - To study the effects of elevated CO2 and N deposition on the plant biodiversity of bog communities.
- To quantify impacts of elevated CO2 and N, specifically:
(1) on the population dynamics of different species of peatmoss and selected vascular plants
(2) on the growth of dominant species in the bog ecosystem
(3) on the organochemical and structural properties of dominant mire plants
(4) on the decomposability of litter from mire plants
(5) on the emission of CH4 from the bogs.
- To develop process-oriented models that describe responses of botanical composition, C-sequestration and CH4 emission in bogs in Europe in response to changes in atmospheric CO2, N deposition and climate.
Northern oligotrophic peatlands are important for the exchange of greenhouse gases between land and
atmosphere. They (1) contain 25 % of the world's soil organic carbon, (2) may constitute a nearly continuous
sink of atmospheric CO2, and (3) emit appreciable amounts of atmospheric CH4. Increasing atmospheric CO2
and deposition of N will change the net exchange of those greenhouse gases and peat bogs, through effects of
elevated CO2 and N on (1) productivity and chemical composition of bog plants and (2) the competitive balance
between bog plants (esp. peat mosses versus vascular plants) with different peat forming properties and substrate
qualities for methanogenesis.
It will employ 5-replicated MiniFACE (Free Air Carbondioxide exposure) systems at six sites along the main
climatic and N-deposition gradients experienced by peat bogs in Europe: from sub-arctic via boreal to temperate
and alpine, and from oceanic to continental), in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands.
BERI (1) combines highly topical research issues (plant competition, resource allocation strategies, biopolymer
synthesis, soil organic matter dynamics) with the greenhouse gas issue (2) uses the same state-of-the art
methods, incl. isotope tracer work with 13c, 14c, and 15N, at all sites, (3) shares plots at all stations of the
network for specific research by individual partners, (4) includes additional greenhouse and growth chamber
studies under controlled conditions, and (5) combines findings from all sites in an integrating model. The
working hypotheses tested in BERI are:
*Elevated CO2 will stimulate growth of Sphagnum more than that of vascular plants, thus increasing
peat growth, and causing a negative feedback (increased
sequestration of CO2-C at high atmospheric
CO2)
*Elevated atmospheric deposition of N, by contrast, depresses peat growth because peatforming
Sphagnum is outshaded by vascular plants, and because the
decomposability of litter increases.
However CH4 emissions will increase, because of increased substrate availability for methanogenic
bacteria and decreased methane oxidation.
The outcome of the research should help decide whether restoration of the many bog European systems damaged
by drainage and mining is a suitable environmental policy option.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
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Coordinator
6701 AR Wageningen
Netherlands
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