Global Warming Potential During the Construction Phase of Wetland Restoration.

Wetlands provide many ecosystem services, including water quality improvement and habitat for rare species.  However, the net greenhouse gas emission from wetlands is uncertain.  Our challenge is to understand how the construction of wetlands from former aglands affects greenhouse gas flux and soil carbon storage.  This project takes advantage of the initial phases of construction of a wetland on silty loam soils in southwest Ohio, USA.  To test our hypotheses, we will measure methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide fluxes as well as carbon storage (the balance between plant growth and decomposition) pre- and post-wetland construction.  The balance between these emitting and sequestering processes underpins our knowledge of how biogeochemical services operate in created wetlands, and thus if created wetlands will attain the same carbon storage capacity as natural wetlands.  Understanding both the timing and mechanisms of emitting and sequestration processes are critical to predicting if a wetland will be a net greenhouse gas source or sink.