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Epron D, Mochidome T. Methane concentration in the heartwood of living trees in a cold temperate mountain forest: variation, transport and emission. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 44:tpae122. [PMID: 39283730 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpae122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 10/18/2024]
Abstract
Forest soils are the largest terrestrial sink of methane (CH4), but CH4 produced in tree trunks by methanogenic archaea and emitted into the atmosphere can significantly offset CH4 oxidation in the soil. However, our mechanistic understanding of CH4 accumulation in tree trunks, in relation to CH4 emission from the trunk surface, is still limited. We characterized temporal variations in the molar fraction of CH4 in the heartwood of trees ([CH4]HW) of four different species in a mountain forest and addressed the relationship between [CH4]HW and emission from the surface of the trunk (${F}_{CH_4}$), in connection with the characteristics of the wood. [CH4]HW measurements were made monthly for 15 months using gas-porous tubes permanently inserted into the trunk. [CH4]HW were above ambient CH4 molar fraction for all trees, lower than 100 p.p.m. for seven trees, higher for the nine other trees and greater than 200,000 p.p.m. (>20%) for two of these nine trees. [CH4]HW varied monthly but were not primarily determined by trunk temperature. Heartwood diffusive resistance for CH4 was variable between trees, not only due to heartwood characteristics but probably also related to source location. ${F}_{CH_4}$were weakly correlated with [CH4]HW measured a few days after. The resulting apparent diffusion coefficient was also variable between trees suggesting variations in the size and location of the CH4 production sites as well as resistance to gas transport within the trunk. Our results highlight the challenges that must be overcome before CH4 emissions can be simulated at the tree level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Epron
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Takumi Mochidome
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Moisan MA, Lajoie G, Constant P, Martineau C, Maire V. How tree traits modulate tree methane fluxes: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 940:173730. [PMID: 38839018 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Trees can play different roles in the regulation of fluxes of methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas with a warming potential 83 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. Forest soils have the greatest potential for methane uptake compared to other land uses. In addition to their influence on soil CH4 fluxes, trees can act directly as a source or sink of CH4, by transporting CH4 produced in the soil and harbouring the key microorganisms involved in CH4 production and consumption (methanogens and methanotrophs). Tree CH4 fluxes can vary between species characterized by different traits that influence transport and modify the availability of CH4 reaction substrates as well as the habitat for methanogens and methanotrophs. Despite their important role in modulating CH4 fluxes from forest ecosystems, the identity and role of tree traits influencing these fluxes are poorly consolidated in the literature. The objectives of this paper are to 1) Review the functional traits of trees associated with their role in the regulation of CH4 emissions; 2) Assess the importance of inter-specific variability in CH4 fluxes via a global analysis of tree methane fluxes in the literature. Our review highlights that differences in CH4 fluxes between tree species and individuals can be explained by a diversity of traits influencing CH4 transport and microbial production of CH4 such as wood density and secondary metabolites. We propose a functional classification for trees based on the key traits associated with a function in CH4 emissions. We identified the fast-growing species with low wood density, species adapted to flood and species vulnerable to rot as functional groups which can be net sources of CH4 in conditions favorable to CH4 production. The global analysis further demonstrated the importance of taxonomy, with other factors such as land type and season in explaining variability in tree CH4 fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Ange Moisan
- Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 Rue du Peps, Québec, QC G1V 4C7, Canada; Département des Sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Bd des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; Centre de Recherche sur les Interactions Bassins Versants - Écosystèmes Aquatiques (RIVE), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Bd des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada.
| | - Geneviève Lajoie
- Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke St E, Montréal H1X 2B2, Canada; Jardin Botanique de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke St E, Montréal H1X 2B2, Canada
| | - Philippe Constant
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, 531 Boul des Prairies, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Christine Martineau
- Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 Rue du Peps, Québec, QC G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Vincent Maire
- Département des Sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Bd des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; Centre de Recherche sur les Interactions Bassins Versants - Écosystèmes Aquatiques (RIVE), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Bd des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada
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3
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Harada M, Endo A, Wada S, Watanabe T, Epron D, Asakawa S. Ubiquity of methanogenic archaea in the trunk of coniferous and broadleaved tree species in a mountain forest. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2024; 117:107. [PMID: 39060562 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-024-02004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Wetwood of living trees is a habitat of methanogenic archaea, but the ubiquity of methanogenic archaea in the trunk of various trees has not been revealed. The present study analysed methanogenic archaeal communities inside coniferous and broadleaved trees in a cold temperate mountain forest by culture-dependent or independent techniques. Heartwood and sapwood segments were obtained from the trunk of seven tree species, Cryptomeria japonica, Quercus crispula, Fraxinus mandshurica, Acer pictum, Aesculus turbinata, Magnolia obovata, and Populus tremula. Amplicon sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that Methanobacteriaceae predominated the archaeal communities and Methanomassiliicoccaceae also inhabited some trees. Real-time PCR analysis detected methanogenic archaeal mcrA genes from all the tree species, with a maximum of 107 copies g-1 dry wood. Digital PCR analysis also detected mcrA genes derived from Methanobacterium spp. and Methanobrevibacter spp. from several samples, with a maximum of 105 and 104 copies g-1 dry wood. The enumeration by the most probable number method demonstrated the inhabitation of viable methanogenic archaea inside the trees; 106 cells g-1 dry wood was enumerated from a heartwood sample of C. japonica. Methanogenic archaea related to Methanobacterium beijingense were cultivated from a heartwood sample of Q. crispula and F. mandshurica. The present study demonstrated that the inside of various trees is a common habitat for methanogenic archaeal communities and a potential source of methane in forest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikitoshi Harada
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Atsuya Endo
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Shuji Wada
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Takeshi Watanabe
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Daniel Epron
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Susumu Asakawa
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
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Guo J, Feng H, Peng C, Du J, Wang W, Kneeshaw D, Pan C, Roberge G, Feng L, Chen A. Fire effects on soil CH 4 and N 2O fluxes across terrestrial ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174708. [PMID: 39032756 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Fire, as a natural disturbance, significantly shapes and influences the functions and services of terrestrial ecosystems via biotic and abiotic processes. Comprehending the influence of fire on soil greenhouse gas dynamics is crucial for understanding the feedback mechanisms between fire disturbances and climate change. Despite work on CO2 fluxes, there is a large uncertainty as to whether and how soil CH4 and N2O fluxes change in response to fire disturbance in terrestrial ecosystems. To narrow this knowledge gap, we performed a meta-analysis synthesizing 3615 paired observations from 116 global studies. Our findings revealed that fire increased global soil CH4 uptake in uplands by 23.2 %, soil CH4 emissions from peatlands by 74.7 %, and soil N2O emissions in terrestrial ecosystems (including upland and peatland) by 18.8 %. Fire increased soil CH4 uptake in boreal, temperate, and subtropical forests by 20.1 %, 38.8 %, and 30.2 %, respectively, and soil CH4 emissions in tropical forests by 193.3 %. Additionally, fire negatively affected soil total carbon (TC; -10.3 %), soil organic carbon (SOC; -15.6 %), microbial biomass carbon (MBC; -44.8 %), dissolved organic carbon (DOC; -27 %), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN; -24.7 %), soil water content (SWC; -9.2 %), and water table depth (WTD; -68.2 %). Conversely, the fire increased soil bulk density (BD; +10.8 %), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N; +46 %), nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N; +54 %), pH (+4.4 %), and soil temperature (+15.4 %). Our meta-regression analysis showed that the positive effects of fire on soil CH4 and N2O emissions were significantly positively correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP), indicating that climate warming will amplify the positive effects of fire disturbance on soil CH4 and N2O emissions. Taken together, since higher future temperatures are likely to prolong the fire season and increase the potential of fires, this could lead to positive feedback between warming, fire events, CH4 and N2O emissions, and future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Trees and Ornamental Plants, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry (School of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, School of Rural Revitalization), Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Huili Feng
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Trees and Ornamental Plants, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry (School of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, School of Rural Revitalization), Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
| | - Changhui Peng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada; College of Geographic Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, China
| | - Juan Du
- Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuhan, Hubei 430223, China
| | - Weifeng Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Daniel Kneeshaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Chang Pan
- College of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui 246011, China
| | - Gabrielle Roberge
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Lei Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Anping Chen
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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5
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Gauci V, Pangala SR, Shenkin A, Barba J, Bastviken D, Figueiredo V, Gomez C, Enrich-Prast A, Sayer E, Stauffer T, Welch B, Elias D, McNamara N, Allen M, Malhi Y. Global atmospheric methane uptake by upland tree woody surfaces. Nature 2024; 631:796-800. [PMID: 39048683 PMCID: PMC11269171 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07592-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Methane is an important greenhouse gas1, but the role of trees in the methane budget remains uncertain2. Although it has been shown that wetland and some upland trees can emit soil-derived methane at the stem base3,4, it has also been suggested that upland trees can serve as a net sink for atmospheric methane5,6. Here we examine in situ woody surface methane exchange of upland tropical, temperate and boreal forest trees. We find that methane uptake on woody surfaces, in particular at and above about 2 m above the forest floor, can dominate the net ecosystem contribution of trees, resulting in a net tree methane sink. Stable carbon isotope measurement of methane in woody surface chamber air and process-level investigations on extracted wood cores are consistent with methanotrophy, suggesting a microbially mediated drawdown of methane on and in tree woody surfaces and tissues. By applying terrestrial laser scanning-derived allometry to quantify global forest tree woody surface area, a preliminary first estimate suggests that trees may contribute 24.6-49.9 Tg of atmospheric methane uptake globally. Our findings indicate that the climate benefits of tropical and temperate forest protection and reforestation may be greater than previously assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Gauci
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | | | - Alexander Shenkin
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Josep Barba
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - David Bastviken
- Department of Thematic Studies-Environmental Change, Linköping University, Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Viviane Figueiredo
- Department of Thematic Studies-Environmental Change, Linköping University, Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Carla Gomez
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Studies, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Alex Enrich-Prast
- Department of Thematic Studies-Environmental Change, Linköping University, Linkoping, Sweden
- Multiuser Unit of Environmental Analysis, University Federal of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Institute of Marine Science, Federal University of São Paulo (IMar/UNIFESP), Santos, Brazil
| | - Emma Sayer
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Institute of Botany, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tainá Stauffer
- Multiuser Unit of Environmental Analysis, University Federal of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bertie Welch
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Studies, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Dafydd Elias
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK
| | - Niall McNamara
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK
| | - Myles Allen
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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6
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Vestin P. Forests don't just absorb CO 2 - they also take up methane. Nature 2024; 631:744-745. [PMID: 39048686 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-02270-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
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7
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Ma X, Feng H, Guo J, Peng C, Kneeshaw D, Wang W. Soil methane emissions from plain poplar (Populus spp.) plantations with contrasting soil textures. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14466. [PMID: 38914699 PMCID: PMC11196282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65300-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The forest soil methane (CH4) flux exhibits high spatiotemporal variability. Understanding these variations and their driving factors is crucial for accurately assessing the forest CH4 budget. In this study, we monitored the diurnal and seasonal variations in soil CH4 fluxes in two poplar (Populus spp.) plantations (Sihong and Dongtai) with different soil textures using the static chamber-based method. The results showed that the annual average soil CH4 flux in the Sihong and Dongtai poplar plantations was 4.27 ± 1.37 kg CH4-C ha-1 yr-1 and 1.92 ± 1.07 kg CH4-C ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Both plantations exhibited net CH4 emissions during the growing season, with only weak CH4 absorption (-0.01 to -0.007 mg m-2 h-1) during the non-growing season. Notably, there was a significant difference in soil CH4 flux between the clay loam of the Sihong poplar plantation and the sandy loam of the Dongtai poplar plantation. From August to December 2019 and from July to August and November 2020, the soil CH4 flux in the Sihong poplar plantation was significantly higher than in the Dongtai poplar plantation. Moreover, the soil CH4 flux significantly increased with rising soil temperature and soil water content. Diurnally, the soil CH4 flux followed a unimodal variation pattern at different growing stages of poplars, with peaks occurring at noon and in the afternoon. However, the soil CH4 flux did not exhibit a consistent seasonal pattern across different years, likely due to substantial variations in precipitation and soil water content. Overall, our study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal variations in forest soil CH4 flux with different soil textures. This understanding is vital for developing reasonable forest management strategies and reducing uncertainties in the global CH4 budget.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehong Ma
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Huili Feng
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Trees and Ornamental Plants, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry (School of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, School of Rural Revitalization), Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
| | - Jiahuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Trees and Ornamental Plants, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry (School of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, School of Rural Revitalization), Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Changhui Peng
- College of Geographic Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Daniel Kneeshaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Weifeng Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
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Jeffrey LC, Johnston SG, Tait DR, Dittmann J, Maher DT. Rapid bark-mediated tree stem methane transport occurs independently of the transpiration stream in Melaleuca quinquenervia. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:49-60. [PMID: 37984803 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Tree stem methane emissions are important components of lowland forest methane budgets. The potential for species-specific behaviour among co-occurring lowland trees with contrasting bark characteristics has not been investigated. We compare bark-mediated methane transport in two common lowland species of contrasting bark characteristics (Melaleuca quinquenervia featuring spongy/layered bark with longitudinally continuous airspaces and Casuarina glauca featuring hard/dense common bark) through several manipulative experiments. First, the progressive cutting through M. quinquenervia bark layers caused exponential increases in methane fluxes (c. 3 orders of magnitude); however, sapwood-only fluxes were lower, suggesting that upward/axial methane transport occurs between bark layers. Second, concentrated methane pulse-injections into exposed M. quinquenervia bark, revealed rapid axial methane transport rates (1.42 mm s-1 ), which were further supported through laboratory-simulated experiments (1.41 mm s-1 ). Laboratory-simulated radial CH4 diffusion rates (through bark) were c. 20-times slower. Finally, girdling M. quinquenervia stems caused a near-instantaneous decrease in methane flux immediately above the cut. By contrast, girdling C. glauca displayed persistent, though diminished, methane fluxes. Overall, the experiments revealed evidence for rapid 'between-bark' methane transport independent from the transpiration stream in M. quinquenervia, which facilitates diffusive axial transport from the rhizosphere and/or sapwood sources. This contrasts with the slower, radial 'through-bark' diffusive-dominated gas transportation in C. glauca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke C Jeffrey
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Scott G Johnston
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Douglas R Tait
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Johannes Dittmann
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Damien T Maher
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
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Liao X, Wang Y, Malghani S, Zhu X, Cai W, Qin Z, Wang F. Methane and nitrous oxide emissions and related microbial communities from mangrove stems on Qi'ao Island, Pearl River Estuary in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:170062. [PMID: 38220023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Mangrove forests, crucial carbon-rich ecosystems, are increasingly vulnerable to soil carbon loss and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to human disturbance. However, the contribution of mangrove trees to GHG emissions remains poorly understood. This study monitored CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes from the stems of two mangrove species, native Kandelia obovata (KO) and exotic Sonneratia apetala (SA), at three heights (0.7 m, 1.2 m, and 1.7 m) during the dry winter period on Qi'ao Island, Pearl River Estuary, China. Heartwood samples were analyzed to identify potential functional groups related to gas fluxes. Our study found that tree stems acted as both sinks and sources for N2O (ranging from -9.49 to 28.35 μg m-2 h-1 for KO and from -6.73 to 28.95 μg m-2 h-1 for SA) and CH4. SA exhibited significantly higher stem CH4 flux (from -26.67 to 97.33 μg m-2 h-1) compared to KO (from -44.13 to 88.0 μg m-2 h-1) (P < 0.05). When upscaled to the community level, both species were net emitters of CH4, contributing approximately 4.68 % (KO) and 0.51 % (SA) to total CH4 emissions. The decrease in stem CH4 flux with increasing height, indicates a soil source. Microbial analysis in the heartwood using the KEGG database indicated aceticlastic methanogenesis as the dominant CH4 pathway. The presence of methanogens, methanotrophs, denitrifiers, and nitrifiers suggests microbial involvement in CH4 and N2O production and consumption. Remarkably, the dominance of Cyanobacteria in the heartwood microbiome (with the relative abundance of 97.5 ± 0.6 % for KO and 99.1 ± 0.2 % for SA) implies roles in carbon and nitrogen fixation for mangroves coping with nitrogen limitation in coastal wetlands, and possibly in CH4 production. Although the present study has limitations in sampling duration and area, it highlights the significant role of tree stems in GHG emissions which is crucial for a holistic evaluation of the global carbon sequestration capability of mangrove ecosystems. Future research should broaden spatial and temporal scales to enhance the accuracy of upscaling tree stem gas fluxes to the mangrove ecosystem level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Liao
- College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, Guangdong, China
| | - Saadatullah Malghani
- College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xudong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems (Ministry of Education), College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Fuzhou 350008, Fujian, China
| | - Wenqi Cai
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhangcai Qin
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean System, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Fan Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, Guangdong, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean System, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai 519082, China; School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, Guangdong, China.
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10
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Barba J, Brewer PE, Pangala SR, Machacova K. Methane emissions from tree stems - current knowledge and challenges: an introduction to a Virtual Issue. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:1377-1380. [PMID: 38267825 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
This article is a Commentary on the Virtual Issue ‘Methane emissions from tree stems – current knowledge and challenges’ that includes the following papers: Barba et al. (2019), Bréchet et al. (2021), Covey & Megonigal (2019), Feng et al. (2022), Flanagan et al. (2021), Jeffrey et al. (2019, 2021, 2023), Kohl et al. (2019), Machacova et al. (2021a,b, 2023), Megonigal et al. (2020), Pangala et al. (2013, 2014), Pitz & Megonigal (2017), Plain et al. (2019), Putkinen et al. (2021), Sjögersten et al. (2020), Takahashi et al. (2022), Tenhovirta et al. (2022), Wang et al. (2016), and Yip et al. (2018). Access the Virtual Issue at www.newphytologist.com/virtualissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Barba
- CREAF, E-08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, Spain
- Universitat de Girona, E-17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Paul E Brewer
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 84287, USA
| | - Sunitha R Pangala
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Katerina Machacova
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
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11
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Machacova K, Warlo H, Svobodová K, Agyei T, Uchytilová T, Horáček P, Lang F. Methane emission from stems of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) offsets as much as half of methane oxidation in soil. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:584-597. [PMID: 36631959 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Trees are known to be atmospheric methane (CH4 ) emitters. Little is known about seasonal dynamics of tree CH4 fluxes and relationships to environmental conditions. That prevents the correct estimation of net annual tree and forest CH4 exchange. We aimed to explore the contribution of stem emissions to forest CH4 exchange. We determined seasonal CH4 fluxes of mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica) stems and adjacent soil in a typical temperate beech forest of the White Carpathians with high spatial heterogeneity in soil moisture. The beech stems were net annual CH4 sources, whereas the soil was a net CH4 sink. High CH4 emitters showed clear seasonality in their stem CH4 emissions that followed stem CO2 efflux. Elevated CH4 fluxes were detected during the vegetation season. Observed high spatial variability in stem CH4 emissions was neither explicably by soil CH4 exchange nor by CH4 concentrations, water content, or temperature studied in soil profiles near each measured tree. The stem CH4 emissions offset the soil CH4 uptake by up to 46.5% and on average by 13% on stand level. In Central Europe, widely grown beech contributes markedly to seasonal dynamics of ecosystem CH4 exchange. Its contribution should be included into forest greenhouse gas flux inventories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Machacova
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 4a Belidla, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hannes Warlo
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 4a Belidla, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
- Chair of Soil Ecology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Bertoldstrasse 17, DE-79098, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kateřina Svobodová
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 4a Belidla, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Thomas Agyei
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 4a Belidla, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Environmental Management, School of Natural Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Tereza Uchytilová
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 4a Belidla, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Horáček
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 4a Belidla, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Friederike Lang
- Chair of Soil Ecology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Bertoldstrasse 17, DE-79098, Freiburg, Germany
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12
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Han M, Feng H, Peng C, Lei X, Xue J, Malghani S, Ma X, Song X, Wang W. Spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of stem methane flux from two poplar forests with different soil textures. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 42:2454-2467. [PMID: 35870127 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In forest ecosystems, the majority of methane (CH4) research focuses on soils, whereas tree stem CH4 flux and driving factors remain poorly understood. We measured the in situ stem CH4 flux using the static chamber-gas chromatography method at different heights in two poplar (Populus spp.) forests with separate soil textures. We evaluated the relationship between stem CH4 fluxes and environmental factors with linear mixed models and estimated the tree CH4 emission rate at the stand level. Our results showed that poplar stems were a net source of atmospheric CH4. The mean stem CH4 emission rates were 97.51 ± 6.21 μg·m-2·h-1 in Sihong and 67.04 ± 5.64 μg·m-2·h-1 in Dongtai. The stem CH4 emission rate in Sihong with clay loam soils was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in Dongtai with sandy loam soils. The stem CH4 emission rate also showed a seasonal variation, minimum in winter and maximum in summer. The stem CH4 emission rate generally decreased with increasing sampling height. Although the differences in CH4 emission rates between stem heights were significant in the annual averages, these differences were driven by differences observed in the summer. Stem CH4 emission rates were significantly and positively correlated with air temperature (P < 0.001), relative humidity (P < 0.001), soil water content (P < 0.001) and soil CH4 flux (P < 0.001). At these sites, the soil emitted CH4 to the atmosphere in summer (mainly from June to September) but absorbed CH4 from the atmosphere during the other season. At the stand level, tree CH4 emissions accounted for 2-35.4% of soil CH4 uptake. Overall, tree stem CH4 efflux could be an important component of the forest CH4 budget. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more in situ monitoring of stem CH4 flux to accurately estimate the CH4 budget in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghua Han
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Huili Feng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Changhui Peng
- School of Geographic Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China
- Department of Biology Sciences, Institute of Environment Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Xiangdong Lei
- Institute of Forest Resource Information Techniques, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Jianhui Xue
- Institute of Botany Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Saadatullah Malghani
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Xuehong Ma
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Xinzhang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China
| | - Weifeng Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
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13
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Hao C, Wu S, Zhang W, Chen Y, Ren Y, Chen X, Wang H, Zhang L. A critical review of Gross ecosystem product accounting in China: Status quo, problems and future directions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 322:115995. [PMID: 36037591 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As a measure of ecosystems' contribution to human well-being, the concept of Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) is an integrated monetary index for the evaluation of final ecosystem services, which has attracted widespread attention around the world. In China, both national and local governments have launched a series of GEP accounting pilot projects, with the aim to incorporate this new concept into real world decision-making. However, a critical review of these practices remains lacking, especially regarding their current status and problems. In this study, by performing a systematic review and data integration of current literature and government documents, we comprehensively described the GEP accounting practices in China, including pilot project's coverage, accounting methods, and policy application. Then, we identified five major problems in current GEP accounting practices in China, which prevent GEP from being accurately measured in the short term. We proposed that GEP accounting should be a constantly evolving process with both long-term and short-term improvement goals. More in detail, the accuracy issues in GEP accounting require longer periods of time to resolve; while its repeatability, comparability, and applicability should be improved in the short term, so that it can be incorporated into decision-making. In response to these challenges, we suggested the adaptation of GEP accounting index screening principles as a possible future direction, which can help to apply GEP results in the current stages of decision making. By improving GEP concept and accounting, it will be possible to establish a unified comparable GEP accounting system and reduce the gap between the GEP and decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaozhi Hao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Center for Yellow River Ecosystem Products, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Shuyao Wu
- Center for Yellow River Ecosystem Products, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Qingdao Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Wentao Zhang
- Center for Yellow River Ecosystem Products, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Qingdao Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Yuqing Chen
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Yaofa Ren
- Center for Yellow River Ecosystem Products, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xin Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Center for Yellow River Ecosystem Products, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Center for Yellow River Ecosystem Products, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Linbo Zhang
- Center for Yellow River Ecosystem Products, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China; Qingdao Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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14
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Variability in Stem Methane Emissions and Wood Methane Production of Tree Different Species in a Cold Temperate Mountain Forest. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00795-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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15
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Takahashi K, Sakabe A, Azuma WA, Itoh M, Imai T, Matsumura Y, Tateishi M, Kosugi Y. Insights into the mechanism of diurnal variations in methane emission from the stem surfaces of Alnus japonica. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:1757-1766. [PMID: 35835139 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that in certain environments, tree stems emit methane (CH4 ). This study explored the mechanism of CH4 emission from the stem surfaces of Alnus japonica in a riparian wetland. Stem CH4 emission rates and sap flux were monitored year-round, and fine-root anatomy was investigated. CH4 emission rates were estimated using a closed-chamber method. Sap flux was measured using Granier-type thermal dissipation probes. Root anatomy was studied using both optical and cryo-scanning electron microscopy. CH4 emissions during the leafy season exhibited a diurnally changing component superimposed upon an underlying continuum in which the diurnal variation was in phase with sap flux. We propose a model in which stem CH4 emission involves at least two processes: a sap flux-dependent component responsible for the diurnal changes, and a sap flux-independent component responsible for the background continuum. The contribution ratios of the two processes are season-dependent. The background continuum possibly resulted from the diffusive transport of gaseous CH4 from the roots to the upper trunk. Root anatomy analysis indicated that the intercellular space of the cortex and empty xylem cells in fine roots could serve as a passageway for transport of gaseous CH4 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenshi Takahashi
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Ayaka Sakabe
- The Hakubi Center, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Wakana A Azuma
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Masayuki Itoh
- School of Human Science and Environment, University of Hyogo, Himeji, 670-0092, Japan
| | - Tomoya Imai
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yasuki Matsumura
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Makiko Tateishi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Kosugi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
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