Spatio-temporal trends of nitrogen deposition and climate effects on Sphagnum productivity in European peatlands

Environ Pollut. 2014 Apr:187:73-80. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.12.023. Epub 2014 Jan 21.

Abstract

To quantify potential nitrogen (N) deposition impacts on peatland carbon (C) uptake, we explored temporal and spatial trends in N deposition and climate impacts on the production of the key peat forming functional group (Sphagnum mosses) across European peatlands for the period 1900-2050. Using a modelling approach we estimated that between 1900 and 1950 N deposition impacts remained limited irrespective of geographical position. Between 1950 and 2000 N deposition depressed production between 0 and 25% relative to 1900, particularly in temperate regions. Future scenarios indicate this trend will continue and become more pronounced with climate warming. At the European scale, the consequences for Sphagnum net C-uptake remained small relative to 1900 due to the low peatland cover in high-N areas. The predicted impacts of likely changes in N deposition on Sphagnum productivity appeared to be less than those of climate. Nevertheless, current critical loads for peatlands are likely to hold under a future climate.

Keywords: Air pollution; Carbon balance; Critical load; Ecosystem change; Peat mosses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Air Pollutants / toxicity
  • Carbon / analysis
  • Climate Change
  • Europe
  • Nitrogen / analysis*
  • Nitrogen / toxicity
  • Sphagnopsida / drug effects
  • Sphagnopsida / physiology*
  • Stress, Physiological

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen