Microbial photosynthesis mitigates carbon loss from northern peatlands under warming

Samuel Hamard, Sophie Planchenault, Romain Walcker, Anna Sytiuk, Marie Geay, Martin Küttim, Ellen Dorrepaal, Mariusz Lamentowicz, Owen L. Petchey, Bjorn J. M. Robroek, Eeva-Stiina Tuittila, Maialen Barret, Régis Céréghino, Frédéric Delarue, Jessica Ferriol, Tristan Lafont Rapnouil, Joséphine Leflaive, Gaël Roux and Vincent E. J. Jassey ()
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Samuel Hamard: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Sophie Planchenault: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Romain Walcker: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Anna Sytiuk: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Marie Geay: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Martin Küttim: Tallinn University
Ellen Dorrepaal: Umeå University
Mariusz Lamentowicz: Adam Mickiewicz University
Owen L. Petchey: University of Zurich
Bjorn J. M. Robroek: Radboud University
Eeva-Stiina Tuittila: University of Eastern Finland
Maialen Barret: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Régis Céréghino: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Frédéric Delarue: UMR 7619 METIS
Jessica Ferriol: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Tristan Lafont Rapnouil: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Joséphine Leflaive: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Gaël Roux: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP
Vincent E. J. Jassey: Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP

Nature Climate Change, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 436-443

Abstract: Abstract The future of the northern peatland carbon (C) sink is uncertain as the effects of warming on microbial metabolisms are unclear. While increased microbial CO2 emissions are expected under warming, the response of microbial photosynthesis remains unknown, complicating predictions of net microbial effects on peatland carbon emissions. Here, using a continental-scale experimental study, we show that warming amplifies microbial photosynthesis by 3.4 mgC m−2 h−1 per 1 °C increase. By 2100, this increase translates to a gain of 51.1 Tg of carbon per year from the northern peatland area under the pessimistic SSP 5-8.5 climatic change scenario, offsetting ~14% of projected heterotrophic CO2 emissions in northern peatlands. By linking field and microcosm experiments, we further show that enhanced microbial photosynthesis accelerates peatland CO2 uptake as photosynthetic microbial-C subsidies stimulate nutrient mineralization. These results underscore the importance of photosynthetic microbes for mitigating carbon emissions and supporting long-term carbon storage in peatlands.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-025-02271-8

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