Environmental and biological controls on carbon dioxide and methane exchange in a restored freshwater mineral-soil wetland at Frank Lake, Alberta

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dc.contributor.authorFernando, Weerahannedige Oshini Kaushalya
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorFlanagan, Larry B.
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-07T22:36:39Z
dc.date.available2024-02-07T22:36:39Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.description.abstractPrairie pothole wetlands have been shown to be strong sinks for carbon dioxide (CO2); however, it is likely that these ecosystems are also strong emitters of methane (CH4), reducing their overall carbon (C) sequestration potential. This study presents growing season (May-September 2022) eddy covariance flux measurements of CO2 and CH4 at a prairie pothole wetland near High River, Alberta with extensive bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus) vegetation. The study was conducted during a time-period that was warmer and had precipitation inputs that were altered from the long-term average pattern. Despite the warmer and relatively dry weather in 2022, the wetland was still an important sink for atmospheric CO2 during the study period with a net uptake of 49 g C m−2 resulting from 623 g C m−2 of photosynthesis and 575 g C m−2 of respiration. Methane flux expressed in CO2-equivalents (6 g C m-2 season-1) offset only ~12% of carbon sequestration based on CO2 only. This suggests that the valuable ecosystem service of C sequestration can still occur in a prairie pothole wetland even in warm and dry weather conditions.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/6682
dc.language.isoen
dc.proquestyesNo
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Science
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)
dc.subjectwetlands
dc.subjectecosystem services
dc.subjectgreenhouse gases
dc.subjectnature-based solutions
dc.subjectcarbon dioxide
dc.subjecteddy covariance
dc.subjectmethane
dc.subject.lcshKettle holes--Research--Alberta--Frank Lake
dc.subject.lcshKettle holes--Climatic factors--Research--Alberta--Frank Lake
dc.subject.lcshKettle holes--Environmental aspects--Research--Alberta--Frank Lake
dc.subject.lcshCarbon dioxide--Measurement
dc.subject.lcshMethane--Measurement
dc.subject.lcshCarbon dioxide sinks
dc.subject.lcshWetlands ecology
dc.subject.lcshAnalysis of covariance
dc.subject.lcshTurbulent diffusion (Meteorology)--Measurement
dc.subject.lcshFrank Lake (Alta.)
dc.subject.lcshWetland restoration--Monitoring--Alberta--Frank Lake
dc.subject.lcshCarbon cycle (Biogeochemistry)
dc.subject.lcshBiogeochemical cycles--Seasonal variations
dc.subject.lcshDissertations, Academic
dc.titleEnvironmental and biological controls on carbon dioxide and methane exchange in a restored freshwater mineral-soil wetland at Frank Lake, Alberta
dc.typeThesis
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