Articles | Volume 12, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-4739-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-4739-2015
Research article
 | 
06 Aug 2015
Research article |  | 06 Aug 2015

Simultaneous high C fixation and high C emissions in Sphagnum mires

S. F. Harpenslager, G. van Dijk, S. Kosten, J. G. M. Roelofs, A. J. P. Smolders, and L. P. M. Lamers

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AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (03 Jul 2015) by Andreas Ibrom
AR by Sarah Faye Harpenslager on behalf of the Authors (03 Jul 2015)  Author's response   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (07 Jul 2015) by Andreas Ibrom
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (20 Jul 2015)
ED: Publish as is (20 Jul 2015) by Andreas Ibrom
AR by Sarah Faye Harpenslager on behalf of the Authors (21 Jul 2015)
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Short summary
While pristine, growing peatlands are often considered to be net sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2), fluxes vary considerably and these systems can be net sinks or sources of CO2. To explain part of this huge variation, here we present a phenomenon of peat moss (Sphagnum)-driven CO2 production. Due to the acid excreted by Sphagnum, bicarbonate in the surface water is transformed into CO2. Thus, while these systems have high CO2 fixation rates due to growing Sphagnum, they show a net emission of CO2.
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