Plant root carbon inputs drive methane production in tropical peatlands

Girkin, N.T.; Siegenthaler, A.; Lopez, O.; Stott, A.; Ostle, N.; Gauci, V.; Sjögersten, S.. 2025 Plant root carbon inputs drive methane production in tropical peatlands. Scientific Reports, 15, 3244. 14, pp. 10.1038/s41598-025-87467-w

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87467-w

Abstract/Summary

Tropical peatlands are carbon-dense ecosystems that are significant sources of atmospheric methane (CH4). Recent work has demonstrated the importance of trees as an emission pathway for CH4 from the peat to the atmosphere. However, there remain questions over the processes of CH4 production in these systems and how they relate to substrate supply. Principally, these questions relate to the relative contribution of recent photosynthetically fixed carbon, released as root exudates, versus carbon substrate supply from the slowly decomposing peat matrix to CH4 emissions within these ecosystems. Here, we examined the role of root inputs in regulating CH4 production inferred from soil emissions using a combination of in situ tree girdling, in situ13C natural abundance labelling via stem injections, and a 13CO2 labelling of transplanted plants of two contrasting plant functional types, a broadleaved evergreen tree, and a canopy palm. Girdling of broadleaved evergreen trees reduced CH4 fluxes by up to 67%. Stem injections of trees and palms with a natural abundance label resulted in significant isotopic enrichment of CH 4 fluxes, reinforcing the link between root carbon inputs and peat CH4 fluxes. Ex situ13CO2 labelling of plants resulted in significant 13C enrichment of peat CH4 fluxes. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that plant root exudates make a substantial contribution to CH4 production in tropical peatlands.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41598-025-87467-w
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Unaffiliated
ISSN:	2045-2322
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	tropical peat, methane, stable isotope labelling, girdling, PLFA
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	05 Feb 2025 09:20 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538852

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/s41598-025-87467-w

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Unaffiliated

ISSN:

2045-2322

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

tropical peat, methane, stable isotope labelling, girdling, PLFA