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. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Air pollution; Carbon balance; Critical load; Ecosystem change; Peat mosses

Published in

Environmental Pollution
2014, Volume: 187, pages: 73–80

SLU Authors

• Granath, Gustaf

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • McMaster University

Sustainable Development Goals

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss


UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences
Ecology
Botany


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.12.023

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/53298