Ecosystem-Scale Carbon Fluxes Following Fen Restoration

Peatland restoration aims to re-establish carbon (C) sequestration and peat accumulation to the ecosystem following a disturbance. While bog restoration has been relatively well-studied, limited data is available on C exchange following fen restoration in Canada. My research was conducted at South Julius, Manitoba, a post-extraction peatland restored in 2016. Differing restoration treatments created contrasting hydrological conditions and thus plant communities across the site. The “wet” site included reprofiling, creation of berms, and spreading of donor material. Rainy conditions the following spring caused flooding that spread to active extraction areas. In response, a berm was installed which resulted in deep inundation. This site is now a marsh-like plant community currently dominated by Typha spp. in standing water. The “dry” site did not include reprofiling but was rewetted during restoration activities and developed a diverse plant community with sedges and shrubs. The restored areas are surrounded by undisturbed fens. Eddy covariance (EC) systems were installed in the dry, wet, and undisturbed sites to measure ecosystem-scale C fluxes in addition to hydrological and meteorological conditions, providing insights into differences in C exchange between the sites. Preliminary findings indicate that the undisturbed fen exhibits the highest net C uptake, while the wet site has elevated methane (CH4) emissions, likely linked to plant-mediated transport through the Typha spp. These findings highlight how hydrological outcomes and plant community development shape ecosystem greenhouse gas (GHG) function following restoration. My research will assess restoration outcomes and results will be important for GHG emission reporting for C offset credits and Canada’s national GHG inventory. This research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Ian Strachan in the Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) Lab, Department of Geography and Planning.