Wetlands can improve water quality, but they are also recognized as important sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Emissions of these gases from wetland ecosystems, especially those in headwaters, are poorly understood. Here, we determined monthly concentrations of dissolved N2O and CH4 in a headwater stream of the Taihu Lake basin of China that contains both wetland and non-wetland reaches. Daily GHG dynamics in the wetland reach were also investigated. Riverine N2O and CH4 concentrations generally varied within 10-30 nmol L-1 and 0.1-1.5 μmol L-1, respectively. CH4 saturation levels in the wetland reach were about seven times higher than those in the non-wetland reach, but there was no difference in N2O saturation. In the wetland reach, saturation levels of CH4 peaked in July, coincident with a dip in N2O saturation to levels below its saturated solubility. This underscores that hotspots of CH4 production and sinks for N2O can occur occasionally in wetlands in mid-summer, when vegetative growth and microbial activities are high. Diurnal measurements indicated that CH4 saturation in water flows passing through the wetlands from midnight through the early morning can surge to levels 10 times higher than those detected at other times of the day. Simultaneously, saturation levels of N2O decreased by 75%, indicating a net consumption of N2O. Changes in nutrient supply determined by upstream inflows, as well as dissolved oxygen, pH, and other environmental factors mediated by the wetlands, correlate with the differentiated behavior of N2O and CH4 production in wetlands. Additional work will be necessary to confirm the roles of these factors in regulating GHG emissions in riverine wetlands.
Keywords: Greenhouse gas; Headwater; Methane; Nitrous oxide; Wetland.
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