Update of recent rates of carbon accumulation in bogs of Northern Patagonia-Chile

• Published in: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition Vol. 18; no. ahead; pp. 977 - 988
• Main Authors: León, Carolina A., Benitez-Mora, Alfonso, Oliván, Gisela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Chilean Society of Soil Science / Sociedad Chilena de la Ciencia del Suelo 01.12.2018
• Subjects: SOIL SCIENCE; RERCA; Pb-210; peatlands; southern South America; Carbon
• ISSN: 0718-9516; 0718-9516
• DOI: 10.4067/S0718-95162018005002802

Peatlands are one of the most important carbon cycle regulatory ecosystems, and are influenced by global climate change. However, studies of this kind of wetland are scarce in southern South America. In this study we performed a detailed analysis of recent accumulation rates of carbon (RERCA) in two types of Sphagnum peatland in Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile) (42°-43°S and 75°-73°W). Monoliths of peat in continuous depths were analyzed and assigned ages using 210Pb dating. The results showed a difference between the two types of peatland; the average rate for the anthropogenic peatland (107.34 ± 113.9 g C m-2 yr-1) was superior to that of the natural peatland (78.33±77.1 g C m-2 yr-1). The surface profiles (30 cm) clearly revealed the recent rate of carbon accumulation for the past 100 years in Sphagnum peatlands of Northern Patagonia. The rate for the natural peatland is within the range found for ombrotrophic peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the rate estimated for the anthropogenic peatland was significantly greater than those reported in other parts of the world. Our results provide evidence of the importance of these unique ecosystems in the carbon accumulation process.