Peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome
Abstract Peatlands are significant carbon (C) stores, playing a key role in nature-based climate change mitigation. While the effectiveness of non-forested peatlands as C reservoirs is increasingly recognized, the C sequestration function of forested peatlands remains poorly documented, despite thei...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82004-x |
| _version_ | 1818749705127985152 |
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| author | Joannie Beaulne Michelle Garneau Gabriel Magnan Étienne Boucher |
| author_facet | Joannie Beaulne Michelle Garneau Gabriel Magnan Étienne Boucher |
| author_sort | Joannie Beaulne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Peatlands are significant carbon (C) stores, playing a key role in nature-based climate change mitigation. While the effectiveness of non-forested peatlands as C reservoirs is increasingly recognized, the C sequestration function of forested peatlands remains poorly documented, despite their widespread distribution. Here, we evaluate the C sequestration potential of pristine boreal forested peatlands over both recent and millennial timescales. C stock estimates reveal that most of the carbon stored in these ecosystems is found in organic horizons (22.6–66.0 kg m−2), whereas tree C mass (2.8–5.7 kg m−2) decreases with thickening peat. For the first time, we compare the boreal C storage capacities of peat layers and tree biomass on the same timescale, showing that organic horizons (11.0–12.6 kg m−2) can store more carbon than tree aboveground and belowground biomass (2.8–5.7 kg m−2) even over a short time period (last 200 years). We also show that forested peatlands have similar recent rates of C accumulation to boreal non-forested peatlands but lower long-term rates, suggesting higher decay and more important peat layer combustion during fire events. Our findings highlight the significance of forested peatlands for C sequestration and suggest that greater consideration should be given to peat C stores in national greenhouse gas inventories and conservation policies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:08:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-087b2d890f584d4cb45b1deb0593d34a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:08:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-087b2d890f584d4cb45b1deb0593d34a2022-12-21T21:21:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-01-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-82004-xPeat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biomeJoannie Beaulne0Michelle Garneau1Gabriel Magnan2Étienne Boucher3Geotop Research Center, Université du Québec à MontréalGeotop Research Center, Université du Québec à MontréalGeotop Research Center, Université du Québec à MontréalGeotop Research Center, Université du Québec à MontréalAbstract Peatlands are significant carbon (C) stores, playing a key role in nature-based climate change mitigation. While the effectiveness of non-forested peatlands as C reservoirs is increasingly recognized, the C sequestration function of forested peatlands remains poorly documented, despite their widespread distribution. Here, we evaluate the C sequestration potential of pristine boreal forested peatlands over both recent and millennial timescales. C stock estimates reveal that most of the carbon stored in these ecosystems is found in organic horizons (22.6–66.0 kg m−2), whereas tree C mass (2.8–5.7 kg m−2) decreases with thickening peat. For the first time, we compare the boreal C storage capacities of peat layers and tree biomass on the same timescale, showing that organic horizons (11.0–12.6 kg m−2) can store more carbon than tree aboveground and belowground biomass (2.8–5.7 kg m−2) even over a short time period (last 200 years). We also show that forested peatlands have similar recent rates of C accumulation to boreal non-forested peatlands but lower long-term rates, suggesting higher decay and more important peat layer combustion during fire events. Our findings highlight the significance of forested peatlands for C sequestration and suggest that greater consideration should be given to peat C stores in national greenhouse gas inventories and conservation policies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82004-x |
| spellingShingle | Joannie Beaulne Michelle Garneau Gabriel Magnan Étienne Boucher Peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome Scientific Reports |
| title | Peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome |
| title_full | Peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome |
| title_fullStr | Peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome |
| title_short | Peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome |
| title_sort | peat deposits store more carbon than trees in forested peatlands of the boreal biome |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82004-x |
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