TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND METHANOGEN PRODUCTION

With average temperatures in subtropical peatlands such as the Everglades expected to increase by two degrees Celsius over the next fifty years, with some models indicating a greater increase, it is important to understand the effects on methanogen productivity. Studies conducted on northern peatlands indicate a direct correlation between increased temperature and increased efficiency in methanogen productivity. In the subtropical Everglades which remain active producers of biogenic gases such as methane and carbon dioxide throughout the year, there have not been many studies monitoring changes in the carbon dynamics. The goal is to measure the impact of temperature variations and the production of biogenic gases in the peat column. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) will be used in conjunction with time-lapse photography, gas chromatography, and soil moisture probes to measure the change in gas production and ebullition events associated with temperature changes. Once understood, those results can be used with current and future models related to climate changes and their effects on carbon dynamics in the Everglades.