Carbon and microbes in a degrading palsa mire are distinct from a peatland and a wider connected sub-Arctic fluvial system

TL;DR

This study compares carbon and microbial differences in a degrading palsa mire, a peatland, and a sub-Arctic river system, finding distinct characteristics in the palsa mire's ponds.

Contribution

The study reveals unique DOM and microbial patterns in thawing palsa mire ponds compared to peatlands and connected river systems.

Findings

Palsa ponds had higher DOM concentration and more aromatic DOM than peatland ponds.

Microbial communities in palsa ponds were distinct from those in peatland and other catchment areas.

Ultra-small Patescibacteria were abundant and dominated microbial communities across all sampled waters.

Abstract

Climate change is altering the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients in the northern peatland and permafrost regions, which provide two of the largest terrestrial carbon storages. Lateral transfer of carbon needs to be more widely studied, especially in smaller streams and catchments, as they receive high loading of organic matter and are hotspots of carbon degradation. In this study, we combined measurements of dissolved organic matter (DOM) quality and quantity with microbial community data from a small sub-Arctic catchment. Our aim was to understand how the catchment is affected by two subcatchments: Degrading palsa permafrost mire and peatland thawing in spring. The small thaw ponds in the palsa mire were clearly distinct from the rest of the catchment and ponds in the peatland: Palsa ponds had higher DOM concentration, more aromatic DOM, and distinctive microbial communities compared with the peatland ponds and the rest of the catchment. Dissolved organic carbon export rates from the palsa and peat sites were comparable at the time of sampling, but local DOM processing was higher in the palsa site. We also detected high abundances of ultra-small Patescibacteria, which dominated the microbial community composition in all the sampled waters.

Graphical Abstract

Figures