A Large Amazonian Peatland Carbon Sink Was Eliminated by Photoinhibition of Photosynthesis and Amplified Ecosystem Respiration

Jeffrey D. Wood; D. Tyler Roman; Timothy J. Griffis; Hinsby Cadillo‐Quiroz; Dennis Del Castillo; Lizardo Fachin; Erik Lilleskov; Randy Kolka; Jhon Rengifo; Craig Wayson

doi:10.1029/2025GL114642

Treesearch

A Large Amazonian Peatland Carbon Sink Was Eliminated by Photoinhibition of Photosynthesis and Amplified Ecosystem Respiration

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Jeffrey D. Wood, D. Tyler Roman, Timothy J. Griffis, Hinsby Cadillo‐Quiroz, Dennis Del Castillo, Lizardo Fachin, Erik Lilleskov, Randy Kolka, Jhon Rengifo, Craig Wayson

Year:

2025

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114642

Source:

Geophysical Research Letters

Download (PDF 1.59 MB)

Download (PDF 1.59 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/69437.pdf

Abstract

Peatlands store about one third of global soil carbon despite occupying less than 5% of the land area. Recent estimates show that tropical peatlands store much more carbon than previously thought. There are considerable gaps in knowledge regarding the interannual variability of carbon budgets in tropical peatlands and the way that changing environmental conditions influence the carbon cycling in these ecosystems. We show that a palm swamp peatland in the Peruvian Amazon is sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and can flip from a large carbon sink to carbon neutral when there are prolonged periods with (a) clear skies and higher light intensities that impair canopy photosynthesis and (b) a lower water table that increases peat decomposition. These findings show that the carbon budgets of these ecosystems are highly sensitive to environmental variability.

Keywords

tropical peatlands, carbon cycling, eddy covariance

Citation

Wood, Jeffrey D.; Roman, D. Tyler; Griffis, Timothy J.; Cadillo‐Quiroz, Hinsby; Del Castillo, Dennis; Fachin, Lizardo; Lilleskov, Erik; Kolka, Randall K.; Rengifo, Jhon; Wayson, Craig. 2025. A Large Amazonian Peatland Carbon Sink Was Eliminated by Photoinhibition of Photosynthesis and Amplified Ecosystem Respiration. Geophysical Research Letters. 52: e2025GL114642. 10 p. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114642.