Abstract
AbstractCarbon isotopic composition ofSphagnummacrofossils can potentially be used as a palaeohydrological tool for peat‐based climatic studies since a relationship betweenSphagnumδ13C values and peatland surface moisture has been presented in previous studies. In order to verify this hypothesis, modernSphagnumδ13C values were measured along a moisture (microtopographic) gradient in two boreal peat bogs. Isotopic measurements were performed on bulk material ofS. fuscum,S. magellanicum,S. capillifoliumand S.pulchrum. Isotopic variations found within and betweenSphagnumspecies along the microtopographic gradient were compared using analysis of variance. A significant positive correlation (P < 0.0001) was found betweenSphagnumδ13C values and their position along the surface moisture gradient. Results show that13C‐depleted values are related to low water table depths (WTD), while13C‐enriched values correspond to a water table that is close to the peat surface. Although the mechanisms underlying carbon fractionation processes in mosses are not well understood, we demonstrate that water resistance to CO2diffusion is an important fractionation process that is observed in bulkSphagnumδ13C measurements, since drier and wetter samples exhibit consistent and very different isotopic signatures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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