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Examining gas flux responses to restoration
Citation:
Martin, R., C. Wigand, K. Ballantine, AND S. Moseman-Valtierra. Examining gas flux responses to restoration. Society for Ecological Restoration (SER): 7th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Foz do Iguassu, ParanÁ, BRAZIL, August 27 - September 01, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
There is growing interest in how wetland restoration affects ecosystem functioning, particularly with regard to ecosystem service provision. This presentation summarizes results of research testing responses of wetland carbon cycling and gas fluxes to restoration strategies including hydrological reconnection and invasive plant removal. Information presented in this talk is intended to be of use to natural resource managers and restoration practitioners interested in impacts of restoration work to wetland carbon cycling.
Description:
Wetlands play an important role in the flux of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Wetland ecosystems are characterized by slow decomposition and, often, high productivity, making them net sinks of carbon dioxide. However, under some conditions, such as tidal restriction and nutrient pollution, wetland soils may act as sources of methane and nitrous oxide. Understanding impacts of wetland restoration projects on a site’s gas flux dynamics may be of interest both as a gauge of a restored site’s functional equivalency and for use of carbon credits to fund restoration activities. In this talk, potential impacts of restoration on wetland gas fluxes will be discussed with examples from studies in a variety of wetland systems. Examples include: Comparing gas fluxes in a pre-restoration cranberry bog to those of nearby natural wetlands; testing effects of restored tidal hydrology on methane emissions in a tidal salt marsh; and examining impacts of invasive plant monoculture removal on carbon dioxide and methane emissions in a brackish marsh.