The influence of hydrologic regime, vegetation, and land use on carbon dynamics of Northern Sierra Nevada fens
Date
2017
Authors
Flett, Dana, author
Cooper, David, author
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Abstract
Fens are a type of wetland meadow supported by ground water and are important carbon reservoirs. However, many factors can impact these ecosystems. I measured water table dynamics, vegetation composition, CO2 fluxes, and impacts due to cattle trampling at four fens in the northern Sierra Nevada of California. My goal was to understand the natural functioning of fens and the effects of cattle grazing and drainage. Untrammeled areas were carbon accumulating while cattle trampling had a negative effect on carbon sequestration. Any amount of cattle trampling negatively affected carbon accumulation and greater disturbance resulted in greater carbon loss. Trampling had a greater negative effect on carbon sequestration than water table drawdown.
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Subject
restoration
carbon
meadow
CO2
peatland
grazing
fen