Flett, Dana Anne, authorCooper, David J., advisorvon Fischer, Joe, committee memberChimner, Rodney A., committee member2018-09-102018-09-102018https://hdl.handle.net/10217/191396Peatlands serve as significant carbon storage reservoirs relative to their abundance on the landscape yet impacts to these important ecosystems are numerous. Studies on the effects of cattle grazing on these systems are few. I measured water table dynamics, vegetation composition, CO2 fluxes, and impacts due to cattle hoof punching at four fens in the northern Sierra Nevada of California to understand the natural functioning of these peatlands and the effects of cattle grazing on the ecosystem. I compared areas with and without cattle hoof punching and contrasted impacts from cattle to the effects of erosion gully-induced water table drawdown on the potential for CO2 sequestration. I found that areas without hoof punching are generally carbon accumulating while cattle hoof punching had a negative effect on potential carbon sequestration. Areas with high amounts of hoof punching indicated carbon loss. Areas hoof punched by cattle had 10% the potential for carbon storage as areas without hoof punching in the Oreostemma alpigenum vegetation type (p < 0.0001) and 20% the potential for carbon storage in Sphagnum subsecundum (p = 0.0009). While intact fens demonstrate carbon storage potential, my analysis indicates that even small amounts of cattle hoof punching negatively affects this process and greater disturbance results in greater potential for carbon losses. Soil temperature in hoof punched areas was not significantly different than temperatures in areas without hoof punching and CO2 emissions did not depend on variations in the water table. Results suggest that cattle hoof punching has a greater negative effect on carbon sequestration than water table drawdown resulting from gully incision in these fens.born digitalmasters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.cattlefluxespeatlandfencarbon dioxidegrazingText