Conversion of coastal marsh to aquaculture ponds decreased the potential of methane production by altering soil chemical properties and methanogenic archaea community structure
Wang, Miaoying (Jimei University)
Peñuelas, Josep (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Sardans i Galobart, Jordi (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Zeng, Qingsong (Fujian Normal University)
Song, Zhaoliang (Tianjin University)
Zhou, Jingyun (Tianjin University)
Xu, Xuping (Fujian Normal University)
Zhou, Xiaoqi (East China Normal University)
Fang, Yunying (Griffith University)
Vancov, Tony (Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute)
Wang, Weiqi (Fujian Normal University)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Coastal wetlands are among the most productive and dynamic ecosystems globally, contributing significantly to atmospheric methane (CH4) emissions. The widespread conversion of these wetlands into aquaculture ponds degrades these ecosystems, yet its effects on CH4 production and associated microbial mechanisms are not well understood. This study aimed to assess the impact of land conversion on CH4 production potential, total and active soil organic C (SOC) content, and microbial communities. We conducted a comparative study on three brackish marshes and adjacent aquaculture ponds in southeastern China. Compared to costal marshes, aquaculture ponds exhibited significantly (P < 0. 05) lower CH4 production potential (0. 05 vs. 0. 02 μg kg-1 h-1), SOC (17. 64 vs. 6. 97 g kg-1), total nitrogen (TN) content (1. 62 vs. 1. 24 g kg-1) and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio (10. 85 vs. 5. 66). CH4 production potential in aquaculture ponds was influenced by both microbial and abiotic factors. Specifically, the relative abundance of Methanosarcina slightly decreased in aquaculture ponds, while the potential for CH4 production declined with lower SOC contents and C/N ratio. Overall, our findings demonstrate that converting natural coastal marshes into aquaculture ponds reduces CH4 production by altering key soil properties and the structure and diversity of methanogenic archaea communities. These results provide empirical evidence to enhance global carbon models, improving predictions of carbon feedback from wetland land conversion in the context of climate change.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	CH4 production ; Methanogenic archaea ; Land-use and land cover change (LULCC) ; Costal wetlands ; Aquaculture system
Published in:	Water research, Vol. 268, Part A (January 2025) , art. 122608, ISSN 1879-2448

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122608

Available from: 2027-01-31 Postprint

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles