Growing Season CO2-Net Ecosystem Exchange and CH4 Fluxes Response to Increase Precipitation in a Boreal Peatland, Eastmain Region, Quebec, Canada

L. Pelletier, M. Garneau, T. Moore

Climate scenarios for northern Quebec, Canada, predict a rise in temperature of 3.9 to 4.5oC and an increase in precipitation of 3 to 7mm per month in a double CO2 climate. The response of Quebec’s James Bay peatlands to an increase in moisture/precipitation has not been thoroughly documented although these ecosystems are an important feature representing 30% of the landscape. Here we present results from three growing seasons of a study looking at CO2-net ecosystem exchange and CH4 fluxes to assess inter annual variability and the impact of greater precipitation on gas exchange. Monthly average temperatures between the studied growing seasons were within 1oC except in August 2008, which was 3oC warmer than previous years. Total precipitation was 30% greater between June and August 2008 than previous years. Results of CO2 exchange show significantly different relationships between photosynthetic photon flux density and NEE in 2008 on 3 of the 4 microforms studied as a result of increased precipitation. We found that when water table was closer to the surface productivity was increased on high and low hummocks through an increase in maximum rates of photosynthesis, and productivity was reduced on hollows through the flooding of the surface vegetation. Water table position was also a significant control on ecosystem respiration but only on the lawn microform. Elevated water table in 2008 had no significant effect on CH4 fluxes from the 4 microforms suggesting that reducing the oxidation layer thickness by 10cm does not influence fluxes at the surface. These results highlight the spatial and temporal variability in GHG fluxes from peatlands and the different responses of microforms to changing environmental conditions. The rapid response of vegetation productivity to the increase in precipitation in 2008 should also be considered for peat/carbon accumulation models.

Cliquer ici pour visualiser le poster

Retour à l'index des résumés