Peatland vascular plant functional types affect methane dynamics by altering microbial community structure

What is it about?

Climate change causes shifts in the composition of vascular plant functional types (PFT). Our study highlights that such alterations in PFT composition affects the microbial structure, and to a lesser extent the peat organic chemistry. Such PFT–controlled changes in the peat biotic and abiotic environment, in turn, strongly influence peatland methane dynamics.

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Why is it important?

We show that the plant community is rather important for processes such as carbon cycling. Changes in plant community composition as driven by climate change will affect above-belowground relationships in peatlands, ultimately affecting the carbon cycle.