Articles | Volume 13, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4151-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4151-2016
Research article
 | 
21 Jul 2016
Research article |  | 21 Jul 2016

Drivers of atmospheric methane uptake by montane forest soils in the southern Peruvian Andes

Sam P. Jones, Torsten Diem, Lidia P. Huaraca Quispe, Adan J. Cahuana, Dave S. Reay, Patrick Meir, and Yit Arn Teh

Abstract. The soils of tropical montane forests can act as sources or sinks of atmospheric methane (CH4). Understanding this activity is important in regional atmospheric CH4 budgets given that these ecosystems account for substantial portions of the landscape in mountainous areas like the Andes. We investigated the drivers of net CH4 fluxes from premontane, lower and upper montane forests, experiencing a seasonal climate, in south-eastern Peru. Between February 2011 and June 2013, these soils all functioned as net sinks for atmospheric CH4. Mean (standard error) net CH4 fluxes for the dry and wet season were −1.6 (0.1) and −1.1 (0.1) mg CH4-C m−2 d−1 in the upper montane forest, −1.1 (0.1) and −1.0 (0.1) mg CH4-C m−2 d−1 in the lower montane forest, and −0.2 (0.1) and −0.1 (0.1) mg CH4-C m−2 d−1 in the premontane forest. Seasonality in CH4 exchange varied among forest types with increased dry season CH4 uptake only apparent in the upper montane forest. Variation across these forests was best explained by available nitrate and water-filled pore space indicating that nitrate inhibition of oxidation or diffusional constraints imposed by changes in water-filled pore space on methanotrophic communities may represent important controls on soil–atmosphere CH4 exchange. Net CH4 flux was inversely related to elevation; a pattern that differs to that observed in Ecuador, the only other extant study site of soil–atmosphere CH4 exchange in the tropical Andes. This may result from differences in rainfall patterns between the regions, suggesting that attention should be paid to the role of rainfall and soil moisture dynamics in modulating CH4 uptake by the organic-rich soils typical of high-elevation tropical forests.

Download
Short summary
Tropical montane forests represent a significant portion of Andean land cover, however, soil-atmosphere methane exchange in these ecosystems is under studied. Here we report on soil methane cycling in montane forests of the southern Peruvian Andes. These soils acted as a net sink for atmospheric methane and variation in uptake across the studied forests was best explained by nitrate inhibition of oxidation and/or limitations on the inward diffusion of methane from the atmosphere into the soil.
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint