Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholds
Abstract As the largest terrestrial carbon (C) store, peatlands are vital to meeting climate targets. Sphagnum, a genus of ca. 350 species, sustains many peatlands through its high water content and chemistry which inhibits decomposition and vascular plant proliferation. However, many peatlands face...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05348-8 |
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| author | Ben Keane Emma L. Shuttleworth Martin G. Evans Jonathan P. Ritson Angela Harris Adam Johnston Danielle M. Alderson Gareth D. Clay |
| author_facet | Ben Keane Emma L. Shuttleworth Martin G. Evans Jonathan P. Ritson Angela Harris Adam Johnston Danielle M. Alderson Gareth D. Clay |
| author_sort | Ben Keane |
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| description | Abstract As the largest terrestrial carbon (C) store, peatlands are vital to meeting climate targets. Sphagnum, a genus of ca. 350 species, sustains many peatlands through its high water content and chemistry which inhibits decomposition and vascular plant proliferation. However, many peatlands face increased risk of drought due to climate change, and how Sphagnum will respond and recover from drought is unknown. We measured moisture content, CO2 and methane (CH4) flux, and photosynthetic pigments in two species, S. palustre and S. squarrosum, over increasing drought (1–10 weeks) and recovery (1–10 weeks) periods. We identified biomass moisture thresholds of 12 g g− 1 (S. palustre) and 18 g g− 1 (S. squarrosum) below which irreversible damage occurred to photosynthesis. Due to higher moisture retention, and a lower moisture threshold, S. palustre withstood longer drought than S. squarrosum. These species-specific thresholds provide important insight for modelling peatland C sinks and for sustainable peatland restoration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a40ccd0ce0c40a8b115813d244bf095 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a40ccd0ce0c40a8b115813d244bf0952025-08-20T03:45:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-05348-8Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholdsBen Keane0Emma L. Shuttleworth1Martin G. Evans2Jonathan P. Ritson3Angela Harris4Adam Johnston5Danielle M. Alderson6Gareth D. Clay7School of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterSchool of Environment, Education and Development, The University of ManchesterAbstract As the largest terrestrial carbon (C) store, peatlands are vital to meeting climate targets. Sphagnum, a genus of ca. 350 species, sustains many peatlands through its high water content and chemistry which inhibits decomposition and vascular plant proliferation. However, many peatlands face increased risk of drought due to climate change, and how Sphagnum will respond and recover from drought is unknown. We measured moisture content, CO2 and methane (CH4) flux, and photosynthetic pigments in two species, S. palustre and S. squarrosum, over increasing drought (1–10 weeks) and recovery (1–10 weeks) periods. We identified biomass moisture thresholds of 12 g g− 1 (S. palustre) and 18 g g− 1 (S. squarrosum) below which irreversible damage occurred to photosynthesis. Due to higher moisture retention, and a lower moisture threshold, S. palustre withstood longer drought than S. squarrosum. These species-specific thresholds provide important insight for modelling peatland C sinks and for sustainable peatland restoration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05348-8SphagnumDroughtRecoveryMethaneCarbonPeatland |
| spellingShingle | Ben Keane Emma L. Shuttleworth Martin G. Evans Jonathan P. Ritson Angela Harris Adam Johnston Danielle M. Alderson Gareth D. Clay Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholds Scientific Reports Sphagnum Drought Recovery Methane Carbon Peatland |
| title | Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholds |
| title_full | Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholds |
| title_fullStr | Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholds |
| title_short | Recovery of Sphagnum from drought is controlled by species-specific moisture thresholds |
| title_sort | recovery of sphagnum from drought is controlled by species specific moisture thresholds |
| topic | Sphagnum Drought Recovery Methane Carbon Peatland |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05348-8 |
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