Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2021-353
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2021-353
12 Jan 2022
 | 12 Jan 2022
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal BG but the revision was not accepted.

Genetic functional potential displays minor importance in explaining spatial variability of methane fluxes within a Eriophorum vaginatum dominated Swedish peatland

Joel Dawson White, Lena Ström, Veiko Lehsten, Janne Rinne, and Dag Ahrén

Abstract. Microbial communities of methane (CH4) producing methanogens and consuming methanotrophs play an important role for Earth's atmospheric CH4 budget. Despite their global significance, knowledge on how much they control the spatial variation in CH4 fluxes from peatlands is poorly understood. We studied variation in CH4 producing and consuming communities in a natural peatland dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum, via a metagenomics approach using custom designed hybridization-based oligonucleotide probes to focus on taxa and functions associated with methane cycling. We hypothesized that sites with different magnitudes of methane flux are occupied by structurally and functionally different microbial communities, despite the dominance of a single vascular plant species. To investigate this, nine plant-peat mesocosms dominated by the sedge Eriophorum vaginatum, with varying vegetation coverage, were collected from a temperate natural wetland and subjected to a simulated growing season. During the simulated growing season, measurements of CH4 emission, carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange and δ13C signature of emitted CH4 were made. Mesocosms 1 through 9 were classified into three categories according to the magnitude of CH4 flux. Gross primary production and ecosystem respiration followed the same pattern as CH4 fluxes, but this trend was not observed in net ecosystem exchange. We observed that genetic functional potential was of minor importance in explaining spatial variability of CH4 fluxes with only small shifts in taxonomic community and functional genes. In addition, a higher β-diversity was observed in samples with high CH4 emission. Among methanogens, Methanoregula, made up over 50 % of the community composition. This, in combination with the remaining hydrogenotrophic methanogens matched the δ13C isotopic signature of emitted CH4. However, the presence of acetoclastic and methylotrophic taxa and type I, II and Verrucomicrobia methanotrophs indicates that the microbial community holds the ability to produce and consume CH4 in multiple ways. This is important in terms of future climate scenarios, where peatlands are expected to alter in nutrient status, hydrology, and peat biochemistry. Due to the high functional potential, we expect the community to be highly adaptive to future climate scenarios.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Joel Dawson White, Lena Ström, Veiko Lehsten, Janne Rinne, and Dag Ahrén

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on bg-2021-353', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Feb 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lund University, 08 Mar 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on bg-2021-353', Anonymous Referee #2, 22 Aug 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Joel White, 12 Sep 2022

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on bg-2021-353', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Feb 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lund University, 08 Mar 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on bg-2021-353', Anonymous Referee #2, 22 Aug 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Joel White, 12 Sep 2022
Joel Dawson White, Lena Ström, Veiko Lehsten, Janne Rinne, and Dag Ahrén
Joel Dawson White, Lena Ström, Veiko Lehsten, Janne Rinne, and Dag Ahrén

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Short summary
Microbes that produce CH4 play an important role to climate. Microbes which emit CH4 from wetlands is poorly understood. We observed that microbial community was of importance in explaining CH4 emission. We found, that microbes that produce CH4 hold the ability to produce and consume CH4 in multiple ways. This is important in terms of future climate scenarios, where wetlands are expected to shift. Therefore, we expect the community to be highly adaptive to future climate scenarios.
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