Skip to content

Environmental drivers of gaseous carbon fluxes in drained and rewetted Minnesota peatlands, U. S. A.

Published Article

Minnesota

Publication date: July 3, 2026

File format: URL

View resource

This study examines gaseous carbon fluxes in drained and rewetted peatlands in Minnesota. By linking carbon dioxide and methane emissions with environmental factors such as water table depth, vegetation, soil temperature, and pH, it improves understanding of peatland restoration outcomes and supports regional carbon accounting and climate mitigation planning.

Subject Tags

  • Habitat restoration
  • Climate mitigation
  • Wetlands

Abstract

Introduction

Rewetting shows promise for mitigating carbon loss from drained peatlands. However, knowledge gaps remain in rewetting impacts on gaseous carbon fluxes and factors affecting rewetting success, especially in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, United States, despite abundant degraded peatlands presenting restoration opportunities.

Objectives

This study fills knowledge gaps in carbon flux from partially drained and rewetted Minnesota peatlands and quantifies environmental drivers of gaseous carbon fluxes to better estimate peatland carbon flux throughout Minnesota and the region.

Methods

We paired chamber-based ecosystem respiration (Reco), net ecosystem exchange (NEE), and methane (CH4) flux measurements with measurements of environmental variables. We used a linear mixed-effects model comparison approach to identify important environmental drivers of gaseous carbon flux.

Results

Overall, Reco and NEE were lower and CH4 fluxes higher at the rewetted site versus the drained site (4.42 vs. 11.21 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1, 2.57 versus 5.26 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1, and 18.69 versus 3.58 nmol CH4 m−2 s−1, respectively). Open water produced extremely high CH4 fluxes at both sites. Water table depth, sphagnum cover, grass/sedge cover, restoration status, and pH predicted CH4 flux; sphagnum cover, soil temperature, and pH predicted Reco; and sphagnum cover, restoration status, and soil temperature predicted NEE.

Conclusions

The results add to a growing body of research demonstrating peatland rewetting effects on carbon fluxes, allowing comparison of Minnesota drainage-impacted peatland fluxes to global measurements. Additionally, strong associations identified between field-measured environmental characteristics and gaseous carbon fluxes may aid in scaling flux estimates.

Citation

Felice, M., Ettinger, A., Blann, K., Diver, D., Kolka, R., Lenhart, C. and Swope, M. (2026), Environmental drivers of gaseous carbon fluxes in drained and rewetted Minnesota peatlands, U. S. A.. Restor Ecol e70443. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70443

TNC Authors

  • Mark Felice
    Forest and Peatland Scientist. Tri-State Minnesota and Dakotas
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: mark.felice@tnc.org

  • Ailene Ettinger
    Senior Research Ecologist. Washington
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: ailene.ettinger@tnc.org

  • Kristen Blann
    Lead Freshwater Ecologist. Tri-State Minnesota and Dakotas
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: kblann@tnc.org

  • Chris Lenhart
    Restoration Ecologist. Tri-State Minnesota and Dakotas
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: christian.lenhart@tnc.org

  • Maya Swope
    Climate Project Manager. Tri-State Minnesota and Dakotas
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: maya.swope@tnc.org

  • Danielle Diver
    The Nature Conservancy