Summary
This study examined how drainage and rewetting of European peatlands alter microbial community structure and metabolic pathways by analysing stable nitrogen isotope compositions and fatty acid profiles across five sites in Sweden, Finland, and Germany. The researchers found that fungi dominate decomposition in aerobic upper horizons (reflected in depleted δ15N values), but as oxygen becomes limited with depth in drained areas, fungal activity declines and bacterial activity increases, marked by a characteristic δ15N turning point. The findings suggest that δ15N depth profiles and microbial biomarkers offer cost-effective indicators of peatland degradation state and restoration success.
UK applicability
The methodology is directly applicable to UK peatlands, which cover approximately 3 million hectares and have undergone extensive historical drainage. These non-invasive isotopic and fatty acid approaches could support UK peatland restoration monitoring and assessment, particularly relevant to blanket bog and lowland raised bog restoration programmes.
Key measures
δ15N depth profiles; fungal-derived fatty acids (C18:2ω9c); bacterial-derived fatty acids (C14:0, i-C15:0, a-C15:0, C16:1ω9c); soil oxygen gradients; microbial community composition
Outcomes reported
The study identified shifts in microbial community composition (fungal to bacterial dominance) along peatland depth profiles in response to drainage and rewetting, tracked via stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) and fatty acid biomarkers. A distinct δ15N peak ('turning point') in the drained horizon corresponded with the transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions and changes in microbial-derived fatty acid concentrations.
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