Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale

Brittany A. Verbeke; Louis J. Lamit; Erik A. Lilleskov; Suzanne B. Hodgkins; Nathan Basiliko; Evan S. Kane; Roxane Andersen; Rebekka R. E. Artz; Juan C. Benavides; Brian W. Benscoter; Werner Borken; Luca Bragazza; Stefani M. Brandt; Suzanna L. Bräuer; Michael A. Carson; Dan Charman; Xin Chen; Beverley R. Clarkson; Alexander R. Cobb; Peter Convey; Jhon Del Águila Pasquel; Andrea S. Enriquez; Howard Griffiths; Samantha P. Grover; Charles F. Harvey; Lorna I. Harris; Christina Hazard; Dominic Hodgson; Alison M. Hoyt; John Hribljan; Jyrki Jauhiainen; Sari Juutinen; Klaus‐holger Knorr; Randall K. Kolka; Mari Könönen; Tuula Larmola; Carmody K. Mccalley; James Mclaughlin; Tim R. Moore; Nadia Mykytczuk; Anna E. Normand; Virginia Rich; Nigel Roulet; Jessica Royles; Jasmine Rutherford; David S. Smith; Mette M. Svenning; Leho Tedersoo; Pham Q. Thu; Carl C. Trettin; Eeva‐stiina Tuittila; Zuzana Urbanová; Ruth K. Varner; Meng Wang; Zheng Wang; Matt Warren; Magdalena M. Wiedermann; Shanay Williams; Joseph B. Yavitt; Zhi‐guo Yu; Zicheng Yu; Jeffrey P. Chanton

doi:10.1029/2021GB007057

Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale

Brittany A. Verbeke, Louis J. Lamit, Erik A. Lilleskov, Suzanne B. Hodgkins, Nathan Basiliko, Evan S. Kane, Roxane Andersen, Rebekka R. E. Artz, Juan C. Benavides, Brian W. Benscoter, Werner Borken, Luca Bragazza, Stefani M. Brandt, Suzanna L. Bräuer, Michael A. Carson, Dan Charman, Xin Chen, Beverley R. Clarkson, Alexander R. Cobb, Peter ConveyJhon Del Águila Pasquel, Andrea S. Enriquez, Howard Griffiths, Samantha P. Grover, Charles F. Harvey, Lorna I. Harris, Christina Hazard, Dominic Hodgson, Alison M. Hoyt, John Hribljan, Jyrki Jauhiainen, Sari Juutinen, Klaus‐holger Knorr, Randall K. Kolka, Mari Könönen, Tuula Larmola, Carmody K. Mccalley, James Mclaughlin, Tim R. Moore, Nadia Mykytczuk, Anna E. Normand, Virginia Rich, Nigel Roulet, Jessica Royles, Jasmine Rutherford, David S. Smith, Mette M. Svenning, Leho Tedersoo, Pham Q. Thu, Carl C. Trettin, Eeva‐stiina Tuittila, Zuzana Urbanová, Ruth K. Varner, Meng Wang, Zheng Wang, Matt Warren, Magdalena M. Wiedermann, Shanay Williams, Joseph B. Yavitt, Zhi‐guo Yu, Zicheng Yu, Jeffrey P. Chanton

Environmental Research Institute

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Abstract

Peatlands contain a significant fraction of global soil carbon, but how these reservoirs will respond to the changing climate is still relatively unknown. A global picture of the variations in peat organic matter chemistry will aid our ability to gauge peatland soil response to climate. The goal of this research is to test the hypotheses that (a) peat carbohydrate content, an indicator of soil organic matter reactivity, will increase with latitude and decrease with mean annual temperatures, (b) while peat aromatic content, an indicator of recalcitrance, will vary inversely, and (c) elevation will have a similar effect to latitude. We used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to examine variations in the organic matter functional groups of 1034 peat samples collected from 10 to 20, 30–40, and 60–70 cm depths at 165 individual sites across a latitudinal gradient of 79°N–65°S and from elevations of 0–4,773 m. Carbohydrate contents of high latitude peat were significantly greater than peat originating near the equator, while aromatic content showed the opposite trend. For peat from similar latitudes but different elevations, the carbohydrate content was greater and aromatic content was lower at higher elevations. Higher carbohydrate content at higher latitudes indicates a greater potential for mineralization, whereas the chemical composition of low latitude peat is consistent with their apparent relative stability in the face of warmer temperatures. The combination of low carbohydrates and high aromatics at warmer locations near the equator suggests the mineralization of high latitude peat until reaching recalcitrance under a new temperature regime.

Original language	English
Article number	e2021GB007057
Pages (from-to)	1-17
Number of pages	17
Journal	Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Volume	36
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GB007057
Publication status	Published - 28 Feb 2022

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Global Biogeochemical Cycles-2022-Verbeke
© 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Accepted author manuscript, 1.6 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

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Verbeke, B. A., Lamit, L. J., Lilleskov, E. A., Hodgkins, S. B., Basiliko, N., Kane, E. S., Andersen, R., Artz, R. R. E., Benavides, J. C., Benscoter, B. W., Borken, W., Bragazza, L., Brandt, S. M., Bräuer, S. L., Carson, M. A., Charman, D., Chen, X., Clarkson, B. R., Cobb, A. R., ... Chanton, J. P. (2022). Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 36(2), 1-17. Article e2021GB007057. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GB007057

@article{fee59c852827431090d989b6186d94f3,

title = "Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale",

abstract = "Peatlands contain a significant fraction of global soil carbon, but how these reservoirs will respond to the changing climate is still relatively unknown. A global picture of the variations in peat organic matter chemistry will aid our ability to gauge peatland soil response to climate. The goal of this research is to test the hypotheses that (a) peat carbohydrate content, an indicator of soil organic matter reactivity, will increase with latitude and decrease with mean annual temperatures, (b) while peat aromatic content, an indicator of recalcitrance, will vary inversely, and (c) elevation will have a similar effect to latitude. We used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to examine variations in the organic matter functional groups of 1034 peat samples collected from 10 to 20, 30–40, and 60–70 cm depths at 165 individual sites across a latitudinal gradient of 79°N–65°S and from elevations of 0–4,773 m. Carbohydrate contents of high latitude peat were significantly greater than peat originating near the equator, while aromatic content showed the opposite trend. For peat from similar latitudes but different elevations, the carbohydrate content was greater and aromatic content was lower at higher elevations. Higher carbohydrate content at higher latitudes indicates a greater potential for mineralization, whereas the chemical composition of low latitude peat is consistent with their apparent relative stability in the face of warmer temperatures. The combination of low carbohydrates and high aromatics at warmer locations near the equator suggests the mineralization of high latitude peat until reaching recalcitrance under a new temperature regime.",

author = "Verbeke, {Brittany A.} and Lamit, {Louis J.} and Lilleskov, {Erik A.} and Hodgkins, {Suzanne B.} and Nathan Basiliko and Kane, {Evan S.} and Roxane Andersen and Artz, {Rebekka R. E.} and Benavides, {Juan C.} and Benscoter, {Brian W.} and Werner Borken and Luca Bragazza and Brandt, {Stefani M.} and Br{\"a}uer, {Suzanna L.} and Carson, {Michael A.} and Dan Charman and Xin Chen and Clarkson, {Beverley R.} and Cobb, {Alexander R.} and Peter Convey and Pasquel, {Jhon Del {\'A}guila} and Enriquez, {Andrea S.} and Howard Griffiths and Grover, {Samantha P.} and Harvey, {Charles F.} and Harris, {Lorna I.} and Christina Hazard and Dominic Hodgson and Hoyt, {Alison M.} and John Hribljan and Jyrki Jauhiainen and Sari Juutinen and Klaus‐holger Knorr and Kolka, {Randall K.} and Mari K{\"o}n{\"o}nen and Tuula Larmola and Mccalley, {Carmody K.} and James Mclaughlin and Moore, {Tim R.} and Nadia Mykytczuk and Normand, {Anna E.} and Virginia Rich and Nigel Roulet and Jessica Royles and Jasmine Rutherford and Smith, {David S.} and Svenning, {Mette M.} and Leho Tedersoo and Thu, {Pham Q.} and Trettin, {Carl C.} and Eeva‐stiina Tuittila and Zuzana Urbanov{\'a} and Varner, {Ruth K.} and Meng Wang and Zheng Wang and Matt Warren and Wiedermann, {Magdalena M.} and Shanay Williams and Yavitt, {Joseph B.} and Zhi‐guo Yu and Zicheng Yu and Chanton, {Jeffrey P.}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. The data used in this analysis are publicly available at the US Forest Service Research Data Archive (at the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0045).",

year = "2022",

month = feb,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1029/2021GB007057",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "1--17",

journal = "Global Biogeochemical Cycles",

issn = "0886-6236",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "2",

}

Verbeke, BA, Lamit, LJ, Lilleskov, EA, Hodgkins, SB, Basiliko, N, Kane, ES, Andersen, R, Artz, RRE, Benavides, JC, Benscoter, BW, Borken, W, Bragazza, L, Brandt, SM, Bräuer, SL, Carson, MA, Charman, D, Chen, X, Clarkson, BR, Cobb, AR, Convey, P, Pasquel, JDÁ, Enriquez, AS, Griffiths, H, Grover, SP, Harvey, CF, Harris, LI, Hazard, C, Hodgson, D, Hoyt, AM, Hribljan, J, Jauhiainen, J, Juutinen, S, Knorr, K, Kolka, RK, Könönen, M, Larmola, T, Mccalley, CK, Mclaughlin, J, Moore, TR, Mykytczuk, N, Normand, AE, Rich, V, Roulet, N, Royles, J, Rutherford, J, Smith, DS, Svenning, MM, Tedersoo, L, Thu, PQ, Trettin, CC, Tuittila, E, Urbanová, Z, Varner, RK, Wang, M, Wang, Z, Warren, M, Wiedermann, MM, Williams, S, Yavitt, JB, Yu, Z, Yu, Z & Chanton, JP 2022, 'Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale', Global Biogeochemical Cycles, vol. 36, no. 2, e2021GB007057, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GB007057

TY - JOUR

T1 - Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale

AU - Verbeke, Brittany A.

AU - Lamit, Louis J.

AU - Lilleskov, Erik A.

AU - Hodgkins, Suzanne B.

AU - Basiliko, Nathan

AU - Kane, Evan S.

AU - Andersen, Roxane

AU - Artz, Rebekka R. E.

AU - Benavides, Juan C.

AU - Benscoter, Brian W.

AU - Borken, Werner

AU - Bragazza, Luca

AU - Brandt, Stefani M.

AU - Bräuer, Suzanna L.

AU - Carson, Michael A.

AU - Charman, Dan

AU - Chen, Xin

AU - Clarkson, Beverley R.

AU - Cobb, Alexander R.

AU - Convey, Peter

AU - Pasquel, Jhon Del Águila

AU - Enriquez, Andrea S.

AU - Griffiths, Howard

AU - Grover, Samantha P.

AU - Harvey, Charles F.

AU - Harris, Lorna I.

AU - Hazard, Christina

AU - Hodgson, Dominic

AU - Hoyt, Alison M.

AU - Hribljan, John

AU - Jauhiainen, Jyrki

AU - Juutinen, Sari

AU - Knorr, Klaus‐holger

AU - Kolka, Randall K.

AU - Könönen, Mari

AU - Larmola, Tuula

AU - Mccalley, Carmody K.

AU - Mclaughlin, James

AU - Moore, Tim R.

AU - Mykytczuk, Nadia

AU - Normand, Anna E.

AU - Rich, Virginia

AU - Roulet, Nigel

AU - Royles, Jessica

AU - Rutherford, Jasmine

AU - Smith, David S.

AU - Svenning, Mette M.

AU - Tedersoo, Leho

AU - Thu, Pham Q.

AU - Trettin, Carl C.

AU - Tuittila, Eeva‐stiina

AU - Urbanová, Zuzana

AU - Varner, Ruth K.

AU - Wang, Meng

AU - Wang, Zheng

AU - Warren, Matt

AU - Wiedermann, Magdalena M.

AU - Williams, Shanay

AU - Yavitt, Joseph B.

AU - Yu, Zhi‐guo

AU - Yu, Zicheng

AU - Chanton, Jeffrey P.

N1 - © 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. The data used in this analysis are publicly available at the US Forest Service Research Data Archive (at the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0045).

PY - 2022/2/28

Y1 - 2022/2/28

N2 - Peatlands contain a significant fraction of global soil carbon, but how these reservoirs will respond to the changing climate is still relatively unknown. A global picture of the variations in peat organic matter chemistry will aid our ability to gauge peatland soil response to climate. The goal of this research is to test the hypotheses that (a) peat carbohydrate content, an indicator of soil organic matter reactivity, will increase with latitude and decrease with mean annual temperatures, (b) while peat aromatic content, an indicator of recalcitrance, will vary inversely, and (c) elevation will have a similar effect to latitude. We used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to examine variations in the organic matter functional groups of 1034 peat samples collected from 10 to 20, 30–40, and 60–70 cm depths at 165 individual sites across a latitudinal gradient of 79°N–65°S and from elevations of 0–4,773 m. Carbohydrate contents of high latitude peat were significantly greater than peat originating near the equator, while aromatic content showed the opposite trend. For peat from similar latitudes but different elevations, the carbohydrate content was greater and aromatic content was lower at higher elevations. Higher carbohydrate content at higher latitudes indicates a greater potential for mineralization, whereas the chemical composition of low latitude peat is consistent with their apparent relative stability in the face of warmer temperatures. The combination of low carbohydrates and high aromatics at warmer locations near the equator suggests the mineralization of high latitude peat until reaching recalcitrance under a new temperature regime.

AB - Peatlands contain a significant fraction of global soil carbon, but how these reservoirs will respond to the changing climate is still relatively unknown. A global picture of the variations in peat organic matter chemistry will aid our ability to gauge peatland soil response to climate. The goal of this research is to test the hypotheses that (a) peat carbohydrate content, an indicator of soil organic matter reactivity, will increase with latitude and decrease with mean annual temperatures, (b) while peat aromatic content, an indicator of recalcitrance, will vary inversely, and (c) elevation will have a similar effect to latitude. We used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to examine variations in the organic matter functional groups of 1034 peat samples collected from 10 to 20, 30–40, and 60–70 cm depths at 165 individual sites across a latitudinal gradient of 79°N–65°S and from elevations of 0–4,773 m. Carbohydrate contents of high latitude peat were significantly greater than peat originating near the equator, while aromatic content showed the opposite trend. For peat from similar latitudes but different elevations, the carbohydrate content was greater and aromatic content was lower at higher elevations. Higher carbohydrate content at higher latitudes indicates a greater potential for mineralization, whereas the chemical composition of low latitude peat is consistent with their apparent relative stability in the face of warmer temperatures. The combination of low carbohydrates and high aromatics at warmer locations near the equator suggests the mineralization of high latitude peat until reaching recalcitrance under a new temperature regime.

U2 - 10.1029/2021GB007057

DO - 10.1029/2021GB007057

M3 - Article

SN - 0886-6236

VL - 36

SP - 1

EP - 17

JO - Global Biogeochemical Cycles

JF - Global Biogeochemical Cycles

IS - 2

M1 - e2021GB007057

ER -

Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale

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