Biogeochemical Factors Influencing Dissolved Greenhouse Gasses Within Three Indiana Wetlands
Abstract
Freshwater wetlands are capable of processing large amounts of excess nutrients from agricultural fields. These systems also have the potential to produce substantial amounts of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), both potent greenhouse gasses. Agricultural land use alters delivery of nutrients and carbon to downstream wetlands. These changes can impact denitrification and methanogenesis, leading to increased or decreased rates of greenhouse gas production. While there have been studies on effects of carbon and nutrients on greenhouse gasses separately, few studies in the region have identified how the combination of nutrients and carbon come together to modulate greenhouse gasses. Identifying the variation of carbon and nutrient processing in wetlands systems with different hydrology and agricultural impacts could potentially change what we know about carbon and nutrient cycling and how they impact greenhouse gasses emitted from wetlands. This study showed that 1) watershed land cover and wetland size correlated to water chemistry including concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfate, and dissolved organic carbon concentration and composition and that 2) wetlands with higher levels of labile carbon, lower concentrations of nitrogen and sulfate are linked to higher rates of methane in wetland water while higher levels of nitrate were linked to increased wetland nitrous oxide.
Degree
M.S.
Advisors
Hosen, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Agriculture|Biogeochemistry|Environmental engineering|Water Resources Management
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