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 并测量泥炭地和沼泽地之间的碳气体交换， 气氛 维德和亚维特博士将使用一系列 描述性和实验性现场和实验室研究， 泥炭地的历史发展与现状功能评价 生态系统 这项研究将集中在比较 以泥炭土为主的泥炭地， 年在相对温暖的气候（南部泥炭地在 西弗吉尼亚州的阿巴拉契亚山脉）和泥炭藓为主 在较冷地区形成的泥炭地。 具体的研究目标是： 有机质的化学性质在长期泥炭 积累，以确定甲烷的相对重要性 生产与硫酸盐还原在泥炭地受到 不同的大气硫沉积，以量化的转移， 光合作用固定的14 CO2在北方和南方 泥炭地，实验评估生物与 非生物因子对光合固定14 CO2转移的影响， 并评估温度和地下水位的影响 从泥炭地到大气的气态碳通量。 从这项研究中获得的信息将提高我们的能力 为了预测泥炭地生态系统功能的可能变化， 特别是在碳平衡方面， 碳的积累/降解，以及碳气体与 全球气候变化的各种预测下的大气。Drs. Wieder和Yavitt是泥炭地的主要研究者。 设施 可用于这项研究是杰出的。

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.