Fate of methane in canals draining tropical peatlands

Clarice R. Perryman (), Jennifer C. Bowen, Julie Shahan, Desi Silviani P.A.b, Erin Dayanti, Yulita Andriyani, Adibtya Asyhari, Adi Gangga, Nisa Novita, Gusti Z. Anshari and Alison M. Hoyt
Additional contact information
Clarice R. Perryman: Stanford University
Jennifer C. Bowen: Stanford University
Julie Shahan: Stanford University
Desi Silviani P.A.b: Tanjungpura University
Erin Dayanti: Tanjungpura University
Yulita Andriyani: Tanjungpura University
Adibtya Asyhari: Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara
Adi Gangga: Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara
Nisa Novita: Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara
Gusti Z. Anshari: Tanjungpura University
Alison M. Hoyt: Stanford University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Tropical wetlands and freshwaters are major contributors to the growing atmospheric methane (CH4) burden. Extensive peatland drainage has lowered CH4 emissions from peat soils in Southeast Asia, but the canals draining these peatlands may be hotspots of CH4 emissions. Alternatively, CH4 oxidation (consumption) by methanotrophic microorganisms may attenuate emissions. Here, we used laboratory experiments and a synoptic survey of the isotopic composition of CH4 in 34 canals across West Kalimantan, Indonesia to quantify the proportion of CH4 that is consumed and therefore not emitted to the atmosphere. We find that CH4 oxidation mitigates 76.4 ± 12.0% of potential canal emissions, reducing emissions by ~70 mg CH4 m−2 d−1. Methane consumption also significantly impacts the stable isotopic fingerprint of canal CH4 emissions. As canals drain over 65% of peatlands in Southeast Asia, our results suggest that CH4 oxidation significantly influences landscape-scale CH4 emissions from these ecosystems.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54063-x

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