Project leader: Prof. Dr. Nicole Wrage-Mönnig (University of Rostock)

Decomposing fen peat can be a major source of GHG, including the long-lived and potent GHG nitrous oxide (N2O). However, fens can also act as sinks for N2O, e.g. by reducing it to atmospheric N (N2). So far, systematic research on N2O reduction in fens is lacking. Rewetting affects N2O production and consumption by altering plant diversity, microbial activity and community composition, and thus nutrient cycling. So far, N2O in rewetted fens has mainly been attributed to denitrification. However, other sources of N2O can also play an important role. A2 will systematically investigate N2O production and consumption at all experimental levels of WETSCAPES2.0. State-of-the-art instrumentation (isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS)) and a combination of natural abundance isotope mapping and dual-isotope tracer methods will allow us to quantify the sources and sinks of N2O and, together with other projects within Wetscapes 2.0, link them to peat and biomass production, microbial community composition and activity, production and consumption of other GHG, nutrient cycling, and water dynamics.