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  • 2023 HKa STOTEN-D-23-10490_R1

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    Embargo ends: 17/10/24

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Plant invasion can significantly alter the carbon and nitrogen cycles of wetlands, which potentially affects the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The extent of these effects can vary depending on several factors, including the species of invasive plants, their growth patterns, and the climatic conditions prevailing in the wetland. Understanding the global effects of plant invasion on the emission of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) is crucial for the climate-smart management of wetlands. Here, we performed a global meta-analysis of 207 paired case studies that quantified the effect of non-native plant invasion on CH4 and N2O emissions in tropical/sub-tropical (TS) and temperate (TE) wetlands. The average emission rate of CH4 from the TS wetlands increased significantly from 337 to 577 kg CH4 ha-1 yr-1 in areas where native plants had been displaced by invasive plants. Similarly, in TE wetlands, the emission rates increased from 211 to 299 kg CH4 ha-1 yr-1 following the invasion of alien plant species. The increase in CH4 emissions at invaded sites was attributed to the increase in plant biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil moisture (SM). The effects of plant invasion on N2O emissions differed between TS and TE wetlands in that there was no significant effect in TS wetlands, whereas the N2O emissions reduced in TE wetlands. This difference in N2O emissions between climate zones was attributed to the depletion of NH4+ and NO3- in soils and the lower soil temperature in temperate regions. Overall, plant invasion increased the global net CH4 emissions from natural wetlands by 10.54 Tg CH4 yr-1. However, there were variations in CH4 emissions across different climatic zones, indicated by a net increase in CH4 emissions, of 9.97 and 0.57 Tg CH4 yr-1 in TS and TE wetlands, respectively. These findings highlight that plant invasion not only strongly stimulates the emission of CH4 from TS wetlands, but also suppresses N2O emissions from TE wetlands. These novel insights immensely improve our current understanding of the effects of climatic zones on biogeochemical controlling factors that influence the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from wetlands following plant invasion. By analyzing the specific mechanisms by which invasive plants affect GHG emissions in different climatic zones, effective strategies can be devised to reduce GHG emissions and preserve wetland ecosystems.

Keywords

  • Ecosystem, Wetlands, Greenhouse Gases/analysis, Carbon/analysis, Soil, Carbon Dioxide/analysis, Plants, Methane/analysis, Nitrous Oxide/analysis, Introduced Species
Original languageEnglish
Article number167855
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume906
Early online date14 Oct 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2024
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