TY - CHAP
T1 - Carbon Dynamics in Wetlands
AU - Wantzen, Karl M
AU - Beer, Felix
AU - Jungkunst, Hermann F.
AU - Glatzel, Stephan
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Wetlands play a much greater role in the global carbon cycle than their area share would suggest. Plant biomass production and restricted decomposition due to continuous soil water saturation make them important atmospheric carbon sinks. This fragile stage can quickly tip towards being atmospheric sources by droughts and drainages. Therefore, they need to be protected to prevent accelerated climate feedbacks. Aim: This article explains and scales the individual processes conducive to carbon storage and carbon fluxes in different wetland types. Main concepts covered: Elements of the carbon cycle relevant to carbon dynamics in wetlands are explained. Main methods covered: Carbon analysis, biomass assessment (living, dead, above-ground, below-ground, dissolved). Conclusion/Outlook: Wetlands are globally threatened by expansion of agricultural areas, urbanization, drainage, and climate change. Their utmost importance for the global carbon and water cycles are insufficiently considered in land use policies. Their ecosystem functions like their carbon sequestration potential must be sustained by applying principles of natural flow dynamics, sustainable management, and nature-based solutions to enhance their disproportionally high share on ecosystem services.
AB - Wetlands play a much greater role in the global carbon cycle than their area share would suggest. Plant biomass production and restricted decomposition due to continuous soil water saturation make them important atmospheric carbon sinks. This fragile stage can quickly tip towards being atmospheric sources by droughts and drainages. Therefore, they need to be protected to prevent accelerated climate feedbacks. Aim: This article explains and scales the individual processes conducive to carbon storage and carbon fluxes in different wetland types. Main concepts covered: Elements of the carbon cycle relevant to carbon dynamics in wetlands are explained. Main methods covered: Carbon analysis, biomass assessment (living, dead, above-ground, below-ground, dissolved). Conclusion/Outlook: Wetlands are globally threatened by expansion of agricultural areas, urbanization, drainage, and climate change. Their utmost importance for the global carbon and water cycles are insufficiently considered in land use policies. Their ecosystem functions like their carbon sequestration potential must be sustained by applying principles of natural flow dynamics, sustainable management, and nature-based solutions to enhance their disproportionally high share on ecosystem services.
KW - Biogeochemistry
KW - Carbon
KW - Climate change
KW - Climate-soil feedbacks
KW - Ecological restoration
KW - Land use change
KW - Wetland
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148839161&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-819166-8.00051-7
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-12-819166-8.00051-7
M3 - Entry for reference work
SN - 9780128191668
VL - 3
SP - 169
EP - 181
BT - Encyclopedia of inland waters
PB - Elsevier
ER -