Canal networks regulate aquatic losses of carbon from degraded tropical peatlands
Bowen, J.C.; Wahyudio, P.J.; Anshari, G.Z.; Aluwihare, L.I.; Hoyt, A.M. (2024). Canal networks regulate aquatic losses of carbon from degraded tropical peatlands. Nature Geoscience 17(3): 213-218. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01383-8
In: Nature Geoscience. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 1752-0894; e-ISSN 1752-0908, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Bowen, J.C.
- Wahyudio, P.J.
- Anshari, G.Z.
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- Aluwihare, L.I.
- Hoyt, A.M.
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| Abstract |
Southeast Asian peatlands cover 0.2% of Earth’s land surface, but store one-tenth of all peat soil carbon globally. Recent deforestation and drainage have destabilized these carbon stores, increasing carbon inputs to aquatic and atmospheric reservoirs. Here we investigate the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on the aquatic fate of peat dissolved organic carbon (DOC) within networks of drainage canals overlying disturbed peatlands. We measured microbial respiration rates alongside photochemical mineralization of DOC for canal waters collected across West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and found that both pathways lead to rapid DOC oxidation to carbon dioxide in the water column. Carrying out a systematic assessment of the controls on peat DOC processing, we identify key variables needed to predict daily rates and show that DOC oxidation may range from 15 to 310 mgC m−2 d−1 in drainage canals across Southeast Asia, depending on the water chemistry, hydrology and meteorology on any given day. DOC oxidation averaged 70 mgC m−2 d−1 under typical conditions, indicating that this process may reduce canal export of peat DOC by ~35%. Findings from this study demonstrate that drainage canal networks are a hotspot for terrestrial carbon loss following land disturbance and strongly regulate aquatic loss of peat carbon across the landscape. |
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