604-1 Insights into the Dynamics of Methane In Flooded and Flood-Protected Riparian Forests.

See more from this Division: S10 Wetland Soils
See more from this Session: Wetland Soil Carbon Pools and Fluxes (includes Graduate Student Competition)

Monday, 6 October 2008: 2:00 PM
George R. Brown Convention Center, 362F

Pierre-Andre Jacinthe1, Lenore Tedesco2 and Jonathan Bills2, (1)Indiana Univ., Indianapolis, IN
(2)Indiana U./Purdue U Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Abstract:

Insights into the dynamics of methane in flooded and flood-protected riparian forests. 

Methane (CH4) dynamics in riparian forests is not well understood and the contribution of these ecosystems to regional greenhouse gas budget is thus poorly quantified.  This situation stems largely on a lack of field data and the variability associated with delivery of sediment and nutrients during flooding events.  In this study, CH4 fluxes were monitored in flood-protected (FP) and regularly-flooded (FL) sections of three riparian forests (age: 7, 45 and 80 years) along the White River in Central Indiana. Physical (texture, bulk density) and biochemical (CH4 oxidation potential, mineralizable C, microbial diversity index, and methanotrophic community analysis) properties of soils were also determined.  Results showed that the FP sections of the riparian forests were net CH4 sinks (-1.1 to -3.1 mg CH4-C m-2 d-1) with uptake rates increasing linearly with forest age.  In the FL sections, two of the sites were net sinks but rates were 28 % lower compared to FP.  The FL section of the third site was a net CH4 source (+0.6 mg CH4-C m2 d-1) and this was ascribed to the unique geomorphology of that section which is favorable to the deposition of fine-grained slack-water sediments during flooding events. These results will be examined along with data on soil physical properties and microbial community characteristics in FP and FL sections of the riparian forests.

See more from this Division: S10 Wetland Soils
See more from this Session: Wetland Soil Carbon Pools and Fluxes (includes Graduate Student Competition)

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