Biofilm and temperature controls on greenhouse gas (CO2 and CH4) emissions from a Rhizophora mangrove soil (New Caledonia)

Abstract

Seasonal variations of CO2 and CH4 fluxes were investigated in a Rhizophora mangrove forest that develops under a semi-arid climate, in New Caledonia. Fluxes were measured using closed incubation chambers connected to a CRDS analyzer. They were performed during low tide at light, in the dark, and in the dark after having removed the top 1–2 mm of soil, which may contain biofilm. CO2 and CH4 fluxes ranged from 31.34 to 187.48 mmol m−2 day−1 and from 39.36 to 428.09 μmol m−2 day−1, respectively. Both CO2 and CH4 emissions showed a strong seasonal variability with higher fluxes measured during the warm season, due to an enhanced production of these two gases within the soil. Furthermore, CO2 fluxes were higher in the dark than at light, evidencing photosynthetic processes at the soil surface and thus the role of biofilm in the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from mangrove soils. The mean δ13C-CO2 value of the CO2 fluxes measured was −19.76 ± 1.19‰, which was depleted compared to the one emitted by root respiration (−22.32 ± 1.06‰), leaf litter decomposition (−21.43 ± 1.89‰) and organic matter degradation (−22.33 ± 1.82‰). This result confirmed the use of the CO2 produced within the soil by the biofilm developing at its surface. After removing the top 1–2 mm of soil, both CO2 and CH4 fluxes increased. Enhancement of CH4 fluxes suggests that biofilm may act as a physical barrier to the transfer of GHG from the soil to the atmosphere. However, the δ13C-CO2 became more enriched, evidencing that the biofilm was not integrally removed, and that its partial removal resulted in physical disturbance that stimulated CO2 production. Therefore, this study provides useful information to understand the global implication of mangroves in climate change mitigation.