<p> Natural peatlands are an important component of the global carbon cycle representing a net long-term sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The natural carbon storage function of these ecosystems can be severely impacted due to peatland drainage and peat extraction leading to large and persistent sources of atmospheric CO2 following peat extraction abandonment. Moreover, the cutover peatland has a low and variable water table position and high soil-water tension at the surface which creates harsh ecological and microclimatic conditions for vegetation reestablishment, particularly peat-forming Sphagnum moss. Standard restoration techniques aim to restore the peatland to a carbon accumulating system through various water management techniques to improve hydrological conditions and by reintroducing Sphagnum at the surface. However, restoring the hydrology of peatlands can be expensive due to the cost of implementing the various restoration techniques. The goal of this study is to examine a new extraction-restoration technique where the acrotelm is preserved and replaced on the cutover surface. More specifically, this thesis examines the effects of an acrotelm transplant experiment on the hydrology (i.e. water table, soil moisture and soil-water tension) and peatland-atmosphere CO2 exchange at a cutover peatland.</p> <p> The experimental acrotelm restoration technique maintained both high water table and moisture conditions providing sufficient water at the surface for Sphagnum moss. Furthermore, the high moisture conditions and low soil-water tensions compared to an adjacent natural site were maintained well above the measured critical Sphagnum threshold of 33% (-100 mb) VMC further providing favourable conditions for Sphagnum moss survival and growth.</p> <p> Peat respiration at the experimental restored acrotelm (110.5 g C m-2) was considerably lower than the natural peatland (144.8 and 203.7 g C m-2). However, gross ecosystem production (GEP) at the experimental site (-54.0 and -34.4 g C m-2) was significantly reduced compared to the natural site (-179.2 and -162.0 g C m-2). Consequently this resulted in a shift towards a net source of CO2 to the atmosphere over the season at the experimental site (78.5 and 56.5 g C m-2) and a sink of CO2 at the natural site (-17.6 and -22.8 g C m-2).</p> <p> Light response curves indicated that maximum GEP was considerably lower at the experimental site; however it is likely that the percentage of living and dead vegetation at the plots post restoration had a large control on this lower productivity as plots with more living vegetation had higher overall productivity (GEP). Despite wetter conditions at the experimental site, large diurnal variations in moisture (~30%) were observed suggesting disturbance to the peat structure. Although soil-water retention analysis and physical peat properties indicated that no apparent structural change in peat structure occurred, it is theorized that a change in volume in the capitula may enhance the wetting and drying cycles in moisture. Lateral expansion/contraction within the peat matrix may occur due to spaces (gaps/fissures) left between the replaced acrotelm blocks from the extraction-restoration process promoting large changes in moisture which consequently can affect the gas exchange process at the surface. Large changes in peat and capitual moisture have been shown to affect productivity leading to variable GEP and enhanced respiration, making it important to limit the moisture variability at the surface from a carbon cycling perspective. Therefore it is likely that a combination of both physiological health of the vegetation and wetting/drying cycles contributed to lower GEP, suggesting the importance of limiting disturbance at the surface during the extraction and restoration process.</p> <p> The new extraction-restoration technique has potential to return a peatland to both near-natural hydrological conditions and towards a net sink of atmospheric CO2. The replaced acrotelm on the cutover surface aided in maintaining adequate moisture conditions thereby provided adequate conditions for Sphagnum survival and reestablishment. However, the ability of the system to remain a net sink of CO2 as like the natural site was not observed post-disturbance due to differences in productivity. Nevertheless, the experimental site did maintain limited productivity post-extraction indicating that the carbon dynamics of the system was maintained due to this acrotelm restoration process potentially returning the ecosystem towards a natural sink of atmospheric CO2 over a longer period time.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

<p> Peatlands are an important component of the global carbon cycle, storing 23 g C m-2 yr-1 to comprise a global carbon pool of approximately 455 Pg. Peat drainage and harvesting results in removal of surface vegetation, thereby reducing gross photosynthesis to zero. Moreover, lowering the water table increases carbon oxidation. Consequently, peatland drainage and mining can reduce or eliminate the carbon sink function of the peatland. In the first part of this study, net ecosystem CO2 exchange was studied in a natural (NATURAL), two-year (YOUNG) and seven-year (OLD) post cutover peatland near Ste. Marguerite Marie, Quebec during the summer of 1998. Although the NATURAL site was a source of CO2 during the study season, CO2 emissions were 270 to 300% higher in the cutover sites (138, 363, and 399 g CO2-C m-2; NATURAL, YOUNG and OLD, respectively). Active restoration practices and natural re-vegetation of peatlands have the potential to return these ecosystems to net carbon sinks by increasing net ecosystem production (NEP) and therefore decreasing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Net ecosystem CO2 exchange in a natural (NATURAL) peatland and a partly restored peatland (REST) near Ste. Marguerite Marie, Quebec, was compared with a naturally re-vegetated peatland (RVEG) near Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec. Ecophysiological parameters indicate that the REST site was more than twice as productive as the natural LAWNS and three times as the RVEG site (GPmax=18.0, 8.3, and 6.5 g CO2 m-2 d-1, respectively). These results indicate that active restoration improves carbon sequestration over natural re-vegetation but that the net carbon sink function at both sites has not been restored. The presence of Sphagnum cover at the RVEG site resulted in a significant decrease in net ecosystem respiration (NER), indicating the potential for decreasing soil respiration at restored cutover sites through increasing the volumetric soil moisture content.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Lichen and moss are the dominant ground cover on the Canadian Shield rock barrens of eastern Georgian Bay, and they provide many ecosystem services. Lichen and moss mats are essential for developing and accumulating soil on the bedrock landscape, and as the mats establish they moderate soil temperature and reduce soil water losses, thereby improving the microclimate for more complex vegetation. In addition to pioneering ecosystem succession, the lichen and moss mats provide essential nesting habitat for turtle species-at-risk. These lichen and moss mats are not well understood on rock barrens landscapes, and as such this thesis aims to increase knowledge of the growth, persistence and restoration approaches for these valuable ecosystem resources. We quantified the ecohydrological controls on the growth of lichen and moss mats by measuring the CO2 exchange of lichen and moss under varying environmental conditions. From these results we determined that key growth periods for lichen and moss were during the wet portions of the growing season (spring and fall), and that growth was limited or non-existent during the dry period (summer). Further, we determined that soil moisture was the most important control on lichen and moss CO2 exchange, and that this relationship differed among cover type (lichen, moss, mix of lichen and moss). Moss was able to continue CO2 uptake at a lower water content than lichen, suggesting that lichen would have a greater decline in productivity under drier conditions. A decline in lichen and moss productivity would also likely lead to a decline in soil development through chemical weathering which, in turn, could affect the availability of turtle nesting habitat. We also used CO2 exchange measurements to compare lichen and moss productivity between natural and transplanted mats. Transplanting in-tact patches of lichen and moss has not been widely studied, and as such we tested this approach on a rock barrens landscape. We determined that natural and transplant productivity did not differ for lichen, and that there were some differences between treatments for mixed and moss plots. We also used the tea bag index method to compare relative decomposition rates between treatments (natural, transplant), where we found that decomposition rates did not differ. Our results indicate that it is feasible to remove lichen mats from the footprint of a planned disturbance such as construction and transplant them successfully to nearby undisturbed areas. This approach would restore the lichen cover and the ecosystem services that lichens provide immediately rather than waiting decades for natural regrowth or fragment establishment. As a whole, this thesis will increase knowledge of both the growth and persistence, as well as the restoration of lichen and moss on rock barrens landscapes. Given that lichens and mosses of these genera grow globally, our findings can be applied widely to enhance and protect lichen and moss mats, and the ecosystem services they provide / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The turbulent fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) were investigated in two sites of irrigated rice in southern Brazil, using the eddy covariance technique over 385 days of analysis at the site of Paraiso do Sul and 683 days in site Cachoeira do Sul also used the model of filling the gaps in order to estimate the net ecosystem exchange CO2 -C (NEE). Throughout the growing season, rice fields, both for the site of Paraiso do Sul to the site of Cachoeira do Sul, acted as carbon sinks (C). During fallow periods, these fields were the source of C. The NEE accumulated at the site of Cachoeira do Sul was similar in both cycles and practically equal to the estimated site of Paraiso do Sul. The GPP accumulated during the crop cycle 2010-2011, the rice field of Cachoeira do Sul, was less than 12% of the 2011-2012 cycle and higher than 15% of the site of Paraiso do Sul. The Re accumulated was similar at the site of Paraíso do Sul in the 2010-2011 cycle Cachoeira do Sul, but less than the 2011- 2012 cycle. The values of NEE, GPP and R e for the site of Paraíso do Sul were - 270.53 gCm2 , -821.19gCm2 and 527.59gCm2 , respectively. To the site of Cachoeira do Sul, were -282,53 gCm2 , -933,40gCm2 and 597,05gCm2 for NEE, GPP and Re , respectively, in the 2010-2011 cycle. For the 2011-2012 cycle in the rice field of Cachoeira do Sul, the values of NEE, GPP and Re were -279,69gCm2 , - 1062,64gCm2 and 716,58gCm2 , respectively. The total C accumulated over the period analyzed for the site of Paraíso do Sul was -45,90gCm2 , considering this area of rice cultivation, as a sink for C. While the growing area of Cachoeira do Sul was considered a source of C (19,94 gCm2 ). Showing by this that long periods of fallow contribute significantly to the accumulated fluxes due to constant presence of vegetation. The contribution of this work will assist in the investigation of CO2 in these ecosystems. / Os fluxos turbulentos de dióxido de carbono (CO2 ) foram investigados em dois sítios de cultura de arroz irrigado no Sul do Brasil, utilizando a técnica de covariância de vórtices ao longo de 385 dias de análise no sítio de Paraíso do Sul e de 683 dias, no sítio de Cachoeira do Sul. Além disso, utilizou-se o modelo de preenchimento das lacunas com o objetivo de estimar a troca líquida de C-CO2 no ecossistema (NEE). Ao longo do período de cultivo, os campos de arroz, tanto para o sítio de Paraíso do Sul quanto para o sítio de Cachoeira do Sul, atuaram como sumidouros de carbono (C). Durante os períodos de pousio, esses campos foram fontes de C. O NEE acumulado, no sítio de Cachoeira do Sul foi semelhante em ambos os ciclos e praticamente igual ao estimado no sítio de Paraíso do Sul. A GPP acumulada durante o ciclo de cultivo de 2010-2011, no campo de arroz de Cachoeira do Sul, foi inferior a 12% do ciclo de 2011-2012 e superior em 15% a do sítio de Paraíso do Sul. A Re acumulada foi semelhante no sítio de Paraíso do Sul e no ciclo de 2010- 2011 de Cachoeira do Sul, mas inferior a do ciclo de 2011-2012. Os valores de NEE, GPP e Re para o sítio de Paraíso do Sul foram de -270,53 gCm2 , -821,19gCm2 e 527,59gCm2 , respectivamente. Para o sítio de Cachoeira do Sul, foram de - 282,53gCm2 , -933,40gCm2 e 597,05gCm2 para NEE, GPP e Re , respectivamente, no ciclo de 2010-2011. Para o ciclo de 2011-2012, no campo de arroz de Cachoeira do Sul, os valores de NEE, GPP e Re foram de -279,69gCm2 , - 1062,640gCm2 e 716,58gCm2 , respectivamente. O total de C acumulado ao longo do período analisado para o sítio de Paraíso do Sul foi de -45,90gCm2 , considerando esta área de cultivo de arroz, como um sumidouro de C. Enquanto que a área de cultivo de Cachoeira do Sul foi considerada fonte de C (19,94 gCm2 ). Mostrando com isso, que períodos longos de pousio contribuem consideravelmente para os fluxos acumulados devido a permanência constante de vegetação. A contribuição deste trabalho auxiliará na investigação das emissões de CO2 nesses ecossistemas.