Determining Mechanisms by Which Plants Increase Wetland Methane Emissions
EMSL Project ID
50368
Abstract
There is a consensus in the published literature that plants increase wetland emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Because plants in many regions are expected to grow larger and faster due to global climate change, increased methane emissions could result in a positive feedback cycle. Understanding this feedback mechanism is necessary for predicting future wetland methane fluxes and their implications for global warming. Gaining such an understanding requires mechanistic studies of the processes controlling methane emissions. In particular, increases in plant productivity will alter the flow of carbon from plant roots to soil microbes and then to methane. This flow of carbon is important because previous studies have shown that increasing root exudation of carbon is correlated with increasing methane emissions. We are examining plant carbon flow in two ways: studying the microbial community surrounding roots to assess its potential for transforming both root exudates and soil carbon into CH4, and labeling plants with elevated concentrations of 13C-CO2 to determine what portion of emitted methane is ultimately derived from plant roots. Through this rapid access project, we aim to build upon preliminary data to test the hypothesis that root carbon increases methane production not only by directly fueling methanogenesis, but also by supporting a robust microbial community within the rhizosphere that processes soil organic matter and converts it into methane.
Project Details
Project type
Limited Scope
Start Date
2018-06-11
End Date
2018-08-11
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Waldo, N. B. (2019). A Rhizosphere-Scale Investigation of Root Effects on Wetland Methane Dynamics (Thesis). Retrieved from https://digital.lib.washington.edu:443/researchworks/handle/1773/44123
Waldo N.B., B. Hunt, E. Fadely, J.J. Moran, and R.B. Neumann. 2019. "Plant Root Exudates Increase Methane Emissions through Direct and Indirect Pathways." Biogeochemistry 145, no. 1-2:213-234. PNNL-SA-147383. doi:10.1007/s10533-019-00600-6
Waldo N.B., B. Hunt, E. Fadely, J.J. Moran, and R.B. Neumann. 2019. "Plant Root Exudates Increase Methane Emissions through Direct and Indirect Pathways." Biogeochemistry 145, no. 1-2:213–234. PNNL-SA-147383. doi:10.1007/s10533-019-00600-6