REU: Peatlands and Global Climate Change: Insights Obtained Through Comparative Studies of Northern and Southern Sites

这项研究将深入了解泥炭地的碳平衡，并测量泥炭地与大气之间的碳气体交换。Drs。Wieder和Yavitt将使用一系列描述性和实验性的实地和实验室研究来评估泥炭地生态系统的历史发展和当前功能。这项研究将重点比较几千年来在相对温暖的气候下发展起来的泥炭地（西弗吉尼亚州阿巴拉契亚山脉的南部泥炭地）和在较冷地区发展起来的泥炭地。具体的研究目标是：表征长期泥炭积累过程中有机质化学性质的变化，确定不同大气硫沉积下泥炭地甲烷生成与硫酸盐还原的相对重要性，量化北部和南部泥炭地光合作用固定co2的转移，实验评估生物和非生物因素对光合作用固定14CO2转移的影响，并评估温度和地下水位对从泥炭地到大气的气态碳通量的影响。从这项研究中获得的信息将提高我们预测泥炭地生态系统功能可能变化的能力，特别是关于碳平衡、泥炭积累/退化以及在各种全球气候变化预测下碳气体与大气的交换。Drs。韦德和亚维特是泥炭地研究的领军人物。可用于这项研究的设备是非常出色的。

This research will gain insights into carbon balances in peatlands and measure gaseous exchanges of carbon between peatlands and the atmosphere. Drs. Wieder and Yavitt will use a series of descriptive and experimental field and laboratory studies to evaluate historical development and present function of peatland ecosystems. This research will focus on comparisons between Sphagnum-dominated peatlands that have developed over thousands of years in relatively warmer climates (southern peatlands in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia) and Sphagnum-dominated peatlands that developed in cooler regions. Specific research objectives are: to characterize changes in chemical nature of organic matter during long-term peat accumulation, to determine the relative importance of methane production versus sulfate reduction in peatlands subjected to differing atmospheric sulfur depositions, to quantify transfers of photosynthetically fixed 14CO2 within a northern and southern peatland, to experimentally evaluate effects of biotic versus abiotic factors on the transfer of photosynthetically fixed 14CO2, and to evaluate the effects of temperature and water table level on gaseous carbon fluxes from peatlands to the atmosphere. Information obtained from this research will improve our ability to predict possible changes in peatland ecosystem function, particularly with regard to carbon balance, peat accumulation/degradation, and exchange of carbon gases with the atmosphere under various projections of global climate change. Drs. Wieder and Yavitt are leading peatland researchers. The facilities available for this research are outstanding.