Abstract
Snow depth may have a complex influence on carbon cycling in winter. Here we set up a field experiment to investigate how different snow depths (0 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm) influenced carbon dioxide (CO2) in a wetland. The mean ± standard error of CO2 emissions under snow addition treatments (60 cm and 90 cm snow depths) were 0.92 ± 0.16 g·cm−2·s−1 and 0.53 ± 0.16 g·cm−2·s−1, respectively, compared with snow removal treatment (0 cm snow depth), 0.11 ± 0.05 g·cm−2·s−1. In general, snow addition increased CO2 fluxes significantly. As snow depths increased, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and bacterial diversities increased drastically. More important, the community of bacteria differed under different treatments. Firmicutes, which can resist dehydration and extremely low temperatures, was widely distributed in the snow removal treatment, where it sustained soil biochemical processes. Overall, our study indicates that snow cover counteracts the negative effects on soil microbial activities caused by low temperatures and could play a critical role in winter carbon cycling in wetlands.
Highlights
Snow depth may have a complex influence on carbon cycling in winter
The mean CO2 flux under snow removal treatment (0 cm) was 0.11 ± 0.05 g·cm−2·s−1, while CO2 fluxes under 60 cm and 90 cm snow depth treatments were 0.92 ± 0.16 g·cm−2·s−1 and 0.53 ± 0.16 g·cm−2·s−1, respectively
It indicated that 60 cm and 90 cm snow depth treatments showed significantly increased CO2 flux compared with 0 cm snow depth (Fig. 2, P = 0.004), but there was no significant difference between snow cover treatments
Summary
Snow depth may have a complex influence on carbon cycling in winter. Here we set up a field experiment to investigate how different snow depths (0 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm) influenced carbon dioxide (CO2) in a wetland. Our study indicates that snow cover counteracts the negative effects on soil microbial activities caused by low temperatures and could play a critical role in winter carbon cycling in wetlands. Liptzin et al (2015) reported that in the Niwot area of Colorado, winter soil bacteria mainly included Cytophaga and Flexibacter, but the dominant microorganism under snowpack was SMF (snow mold fungi)[41]. Whether or not this conclusion is suitable for other regions has yet needed to be confirmed. The mechanisms of which snow depth influences CO2 fluxes were insufficiently clear, especially regarding the microorganisms involved
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