Source: WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
CONVERSION OF FARM FIELDS TO WETLANDS: HOW DO CREATED WETLANDS AFFECT GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL?
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0225368
Grant No.
2011-39569-30583
Cumulative Award Amt.
$454,545.00
Proposal No.
2011-00829
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2011
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2015
Grant Year
2011
Program Code
[A3161]- Interagency Climate Change NASA
Recipient Organization
WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY
3640 COLONEL GLENN HWY
DAYTON,OH 45435-0001
Performing Department
School of Natural Resources
Non Technical Summary
Wetlands provide many ecosystem services, including water quality improvement and habitat for rare species. However, the net greenhouse gas emission from wetlands is uncertain. US governmental agencies have established policies to protect and increase the numbers of wetlands. Created wetlands, however, are criticized for not being functionally equivalent to natural wetlands. Simultaneously, the US government has established directives to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide increases by sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems; wetlands are well-established stores of carbon. This makes it imperative to understand the interaction between policies aimed at both wetland restoration and climate mitigation. Therefore, we ask: Is restoring agricultural lands to wetlands synergistic or antagonistic with the goals of climate change mitigation Our challenge is to understand how the construction of wetlands from former aglands affects greenhouse gas flux and carbon storage. To do so, we will test the overarching hypothesis that wetland creation on former agricultural lands will alter the site's global warming potential due to: 1) the construction activities associated with wetland creation, and 2) the biogeochemical contrast between drained and submerged soils. Testing the more specific hypotheses underpinning this broad hypothesis will lead to a mechanistic understanding how soil physics, microbiology and management interact to affect the net global warming potential of a created wetland over both the short and long-term transition from an agricultural field.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
10203301070100%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0330 - Wetland and riparian systems;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
The overarching objective of this work is to ascertain if restoring agricultural lands to wetlands is synergistic or antagonistic with the goals of climate change mitigation. We will examine this by measuring carbon emitting and sequestering processes in an agricultural field that is being restored to a wetland near Dayton, OH. Our specific, scientific objective is to understand the timing and mechanisms of how this wetland creation will alter global warming potential due to the construction activities and the biogeochemical contrast between drained and submerged soils.
Project Methods
This project takes advantage of the construction of a wetland in southwest Ohio, a project undertaken and financed by the stakeholder, Five Rivers Metro Parks (FRMP). Our interdisciplinary research will yield a mechanistic framework for understanding how the understudied short-term transition from agricultural field to wetland alters greenhouse gas (GHGs; nitrous oxide [N2O], carbon dioxide [CO2], methane [CH4]) fluxes and carbon storage. A convenient and largely accepted approach for comparing the net heat trapping capacity of GHGs is the global warming potential (GWP) index agreed upon by a 1996 IPCC panel. N2O and CH4 are measured directly by quantifying the rate of exchange of these gases across the soil-atmosphere boundary. CO2 is measured as the change in the organic C (e.g., plant tissue) stored within an ecosystem. Net GWP is calculated in units of grams of CO2 equivalents ha-1 yr-1. A positive GWP indicates a net warming effect whereas a negative GWP indicates a net cooling effect relative to the current GHG concentrations in the atmosphere. We will make the necessary GHG and carbon measurements to estimate GWP prior to and post-restoration of the wetland. There are seven components to our approach (A-G), which can be broken into three areas: 1) periodic census methods ([A] full-cost accounting, [B] soil physical properties, [C] primary productivity), 2) continuous monitoring ([D] soil O2 and moisture, [E] trace gas fluxes), and 3) laboratory and field based assays ([F] enzymatic thresholds and [G] decomposition). [A] We will use a life-cycle analysis approach to define all of the GHG emissions associated with the restoration process. [B] We will conduct pre- and post-construction soil sampling to examine the soil properties (e.g., bulk density, aggregate size distribution, texture). [C] We will collect 0.25 m2 samples of standing biomass and litter from 40 sampling locations across the hydrologic gradient. [D] We will instrument the site with a sensor network designed to measure soil moisture and O2 across the gradient from completely submerged to upland sites. The soil O2 sensor network is the most innovative aspect of our approach. This infrastructure investment will represent one of only a handful of soil O2 measurement sites. O2 is a critical driver of many soil processes, but scientists know relatively little about what controls its dynamics. It is hypothesized to be the main driver of the changes in other biogeochemical cycles we expect to see. [E] Trace gas fluxes will be measured weekly using the static chamber method. [F] We will use standard lab incubation assays to measure CH4 oxidation potential. [G] Decomposition will be measured using standard litter bag methodology, all started initially after restoration and harvested throughout the grant period.

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Our findings are used by scientists and wetland managers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project supported one M.S. student, one undergraduate student and three technicians. It also supported the early career development of PI-Burgin and co-PI Loecke. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have submitted two papers to scientific journals. We have also given numerous presentations to scientific and mangement audiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have worked with Five Rivers Metroparks for nearly 4 years to monitor and better understand how a wetland is restored from an agricultural field in production for ~100 years. We have ~3.5 years of continuous soil moisture and oxygen data provided by the sensor network supported on the sibling grant to this project. With these funds, we couple that soil oxygen/moisture database to weekly greenhouse gas fluxes collected from across a range of hydrologic conditions. Our findings are detailed in the two papers currently under review/revision. We anticipate 2-4 papers will be submitted in 2016 based on data collected from this project. Our initial findings were of great interest to the National Science Foundation, which has granted us funds to continue the use and maintence of the sensor network and greenhouse gas collection so we can continue to learn from this unique field site.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jarecke, K.M., T.D. Loecke and A.J. Burgin. Coupled soil oxygen and greenhouse gas dynamics under variable hydrology. In revision for Soil Biology & Biochemistry.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Loecke, T.D., K.M. Jarecke, and A.J. Burgin. Abiotic and biotic controls on soil O2 at the aquatic terrestrial interface. In review at JGR Biogeosciences.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jarecke, K.M., K. Song, T.D. Loecke, A.J. Burgin. Microbial response to environmental change: Implications for wetland restoration. Oral Presentation, University of Nebraska Applied Ecology Seminars. Lincoln, NE. April, 2015.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jarecke, K.M., T.D. Loecke, A.J. Burgin. Coupling soil oxygen and greenhouse gas dynamics using high frequency sensor data. Poster Presentation, Future of Big Data Meeting. Lincoln, NE. November, 2014.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jarecke, K.M. Coupling soil oxygen and greenhouse gas dynamics. M.S. Thesis available online at Digital Commons from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: C. Silvey, K.M. Jarecke, T.D. Loecke, and A.J. Burgin. Species specific plant-mediate greenhouse gas transport from wetland mesocosms. Poster presentation at the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR 18-23 June 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: K.M. Jarecke, T.D. Loecke, and A.J. Burgin. Coupling soil oxygen and greenhouse gas dynamics at the aquatic-terrestrial interface. Oral presentation at the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR 18-23 June 2014.


Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for our work is soil ecologists, atmospheric exchange scientists and conservation landscape managers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Karla Jarecke remains supported on the grant as a graduate student. She spent 4 months this summer living near the field site in OH do to her thesis field work. She has presented preliminary findings and plans to graduate this year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? See presentations at scientific meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan to continue our monitoring of greenhouse gases and soil conditions (e.g., moisture, oxygen). We are also drafting a paper on the patterns related to soil oxygen (see three presentations from this year) and plan to publish two papers from Karla Jarecke's master's work.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We collected 48 weeks of greenhouse gas flux data from the field site. The soil monitoring network has been up and running continuously for 20 months. We are now beginning to merge our understanding of these two pieces of information to help answer our broader scientific questions.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Loecke T.D. and A.J. Burgin. Variation in soil oxygen across an aquatic-terrestrial interface. Ecological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN 2-8 August 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jarecke, K.M., T.D. Loecke, and A.J. Burgin. Soil oxygen dynamics: Implications for ecosystem-level greenhouse gas fluxes. Society of Wetland Scientists, Duluth, MN. 2-7 June 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Loecke T.D. and A.J. Burgin. Variation in soil oxygen across an aquatic-terrestrial interface: Implications for Greenhouse Gas Exchange. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA 9-14 December 2013.


Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: The goal of our project is to assess the role of soil oxygen in determining carbon storage in a wetland restored from agricultural production. To that end, we have collected the following datasets and activities: 1) Collection and characterization of 1-m deep soil cores taken just before and immediately after wetland construction; 240 total cores have been sectioned into four soil horizons for subsequent analysis and archival. 2) Samples from the soil coring (#1) were analyzed for bulk density, total carbon, total nitrogen, and soil aggregates of four size fractions. 3) Above ground plant biomass to determine net primary production, an important driver of soil organic carbon storage. We are using the biomass harvested to begin a decomposition experiment (starting November 2012). 4) We are supporting M.S. student Karla Jarecke with the funds from this grant. Karla worked as a technician on the grant prior to beginning a M.S. program this fall (2012). She analyzed the soil samples for aggregates, soil N and C and will continue that line of research for her M.S. She presented her initial findings in a poster at the SSSA meeting in Cincinnati (OH) in October 2012. Events: None to report Services: None to report Products: In addition to the datasets generated from the activities listed above, our grant funds have produced new collaborations and trained undergraduate and graduate students. Our activities related to primary production and plan community dynamics facilitated collaboration with Dr. Kristine Hopfensperger of Northern Kentucky University (NKU). Dr. Hopfensperger is a wetland plant ecologist and spearheaded our efforts to survey plant biomass and identify the species composition. Dr. Hopfensperger has secured outside funding to work with NKU undergraduate students on the site, thereby leveraging the resources of our grant funds. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: 1. Amy J. Burgin (PI) 2. Terrance Loecke (co-PI) 3. Matthew Konkler (lead technician through September 2012) 4. Astrea Taylor (lead technician, current) 5. Karla Jarecke (current M.S. student, former hourly technician) 6. Max Gade (former undergraduate hourly technician, currently in grad school at Syracuse) 7. Kristine Hopfensperger (NKU collaborator) Partner organizations: Five Rivers Metroparks, site owners and restoration facilitators. Five Rivers is a city government organization dedicated to park and natural resource stewardship. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Knowledge: We are collecting information for publication in scientific papers and for training graduate students. Our graduate trainees have gained increased capacity to measure and analyze soil chemistry data, as well as skills related to the analysis and management of large datasets (soil core dataset contains ~1000 points per analyte). We have learned that wetland construction greatly reduces the number of large size-class aggregates while increasing the numbers of smaller size classes (e.g., construction breaks large aggregates into smaller ones). This also results in an initial loss of carbon from the system. Subsequent analysis of the on-going primary production and decomposition experiments will establish if this is a short-term loss or if that soil carbon can be replaced relatively quickly. We have begun drafting these findings into a manuscript, the data for which will also be the focus of Karla Jarecke's M.S. thesis. Actions: none to report Conditions: none to report

Publications

  • No publications reported this period