Does litter input determine carbon storage and peat organic chemistry in tropical peatlands?

We used moss increment counting to obtain well-defined samples of the topmost peat layers of two Sphagnum fuscum hummocks. The two ombrotrophic bogs, Lakkasuo in central Finland and Korvinsuo in eastern Finland, are of different ages, covering 3 and 9 ka, respectively. Using AMS dating, we traced bomb-produced 14 C through the topmost parts of the two peat profiles. A well-defined 14 C activity peak was found in both sequences dating the corresponding layer to ad 1965. A comparison between the maximum peat activities and the corresponding atmospheric values for the period of interest provides an opportunity to evaluate the amount of CO 2 emanating from the decaying peat bog, and taken up by the living sphagnum plants. Considerable variations in δ 13 C values were also observed. These variations indicate, at least partly, annual variations in the emission rate of CO 2 from decomposition of older peat in the bog, and are connected with climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation.

Ombrotrophic

Sphagnum

10.1017/s0033822200031052

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Citations (26)

Evidence of natural organochlorine formation in peat bogs

Chemosphere (1997)

Peter J. Silk Greg Lonergan Todd L. Arsenault C.David Boyle

Ombrotrophic

Sphagnum

10.1016/s0045-6535(97)00347-0

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Citations (72)