THE ROLE OF MEDITERRANEAN

WETLANDS IN CLIMATE REGULATION

Antonio Camachoantonio.camacho@uv.es

València, May 9th, 2019

CLIMATE CHANGE?

C-SEQUESTRATION

CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION vs

MITIGATION

CARBON CYCLE inecosystems is relevant for:

►Main ecosystem functions

►Ecosystem services (climatic regulation)

► On a wide sense (e.g. Ramsar definition), lakes and wetlands occupy 4 to 6% of earth surface.

► But overall they are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth (estimated PPR of 4-9×1015

g dw per year), but they also account for 24-40 % of global methane emissions.

► Because of its high rates of biological processes, determined by the presence of water, wetlands

can act either as source or sink of carbon thus contributing in a significant way to the atmospheric

carbon balance.

Group 31 - Standing Waters

NATURA 2000

https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/espacios-protegidos/red-

natura-2000/rn_tip_hab_esp_bases_eco_preliminares.aspx

The project CLIMAWET, funded by:

aims to evaluate the potential role of the main Mediterranean Iberian lakes

and wetland types in carbon sequestration and thereby its possible

contribution to the mitigation of climate change

Our main goal was to determine if the studied lakes/wetland types act as a

source or as a sink of carbon after estimating the balance between carbon

sequestration and emissions, and also make prognoses on future climate

change scenarios

►This work presents a theoretical and methodological framework for the carbon

cycle, focusing on freshwater ecosystems as an example, from which the carbon

balance could be estimated.

+ Upcoming projects

1.3.2.7.- Lagunas y humedales someros no salinos

(origen morfoestructural) de aguas ácidas y/o de baja

alcalinidad (en rañas)

- 1.3.2.7.1- Lagunas y humedales someros no salinos

(origen morfoestructural) de aguas ácidas y/o de baja

alcalinidad permanentes

- 1.3.2.7.2- Lagunas y humedales someros no salinos

(origen morfoestructural) de aguas ácidas y/o de baja

alcalinidad temporales

1.3.2.5.- Lagunas someras salinas (origen kárstico

inducido, karst no funcional, u otros orígenes).

- 1.3.2.5.1- Lagunas temporales someras hipo-

mesosalinas

- 1.3.2.5.2- Lagunas temporales someras hipersalinas

- 1.3.2.5.3- Lagunas salinas temporales bicarbonatado-

sódicas

- 1.3.2.5.4- Lagunas salinas permanentes

1.3.2.2. – Lagos y humedales de alta montaña

(morfogénesis glaciar o periglaciar)

-1.3.2.2.1- Lagos y lagunas de alta montaña de origen

glaciar, septentrionales y centrales.

-1.3.2.2.2- Lagos y lagunas de alta montaña de origen

glacio-karstico, septentrionales y centrales.

-1.3.2.2.3- Lagos y lagunas de alta montaña meridionales

-1.3.2.2.4- Humedales de alta montaña (¿turberas?)

Aerobic respiration

Methanogenesis

Other anaerobic respirations

Wetland

C pool

Atmospheric C

pool

Photosynthesis

CO2, CH4

OC

IC

Study of the metabolisms involved in the wetland’s carbon cycle…

Helophytes photosynthesis(CO2)

Planktonphotosynthesis

(CO2)

CH4 emission

Chemical precipitation (CaCO3)

Inputs vs. Outputs

Planktonrespiration

(CO2)

Benthosphotosynthesis

(CO2)

Benthos respiration (CO2)

CH4 emission

PLANKTON GPP AND RESPIRATION: WINKLER BOTTLES

BENTHOS GPP AND RESPIRATION: BENTHIC JARS

METHANE EMISSIONS: SEDIMENT CORESFLOW CHAMBERS

HELOPHYTES PRODUCTION: DRY WEIGHT

Inputs vs. Outputs

Alcahozo Camino de Villafranca Grande de Villafranca

Salicor

Grande de Quero

Larga de Villacañas Las Yeguas La Veguilla Longar Manjavacas

TírezMermejuela Peñahueca

Alcahozo Camino de Villafranca Grande de Villafranca

Salicor

Grande de Quero

Larga de Villacañas Las Yeguas La Veguilla Longar Manjavacas

TírezMermejuela Peñahueca

Alcahozo Camino de Villafranca Grande de Villafranca

Salicor

Grande de Quero

Larga de Villacañas Las Yeguas La Veguilla Longar Manjavacas

TírezMermejuela Peñahueca

Alcahozo Camino de Villafranca Grande de Villafranca

Salicor

Grande de Quero

Larga de Villacañas Las Yeguas La Veguilla Longar Manjavacas

TírezMermejuela Peñahueca

Alcahozo Camino de Villafranca Grande de Villafranca

Salicor

Grande de Quero

Larga de Villacañas Las Yeguas La Veguilla Longar Manjavacas

TírezMermejuela Peñahueca

Identification and delineation of main wetlands components and hydroperiod by remote sensing techniques

Primary

production

Helophytes production

External inputs

Respiration

Methane emissions

C-capture

SINKS

C-release

SOURCES

Role of chemical processes

Role of chemical processes

… in order to determine the carbon balance of each aquatic ecosystem type

MOROS-1Restored and managed

-1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500

C budget (g C m-2 y-1)

GPP plankton

Resp plankton

GPP benthos

Resp benthos

CH4

Helophytes

PEGO-2Morphologically altered

PEGO-1Restored

MOROS-2Hydromorph. altered

C-sink C-source

CARBON BALANCE IN

COASTAL FRESHWATER WETLANDS

Morant, Camacho et al. Inland Waters (in press)

-2000 -1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000

GWP balance (mg CO2-eq m-2 y-1)

GPP plankton

Resp plankton

GPP benthos

Resp benthos

CH4

Helophytes

PEGO-2Morphologically altered

PEGO-1Restored

MOROS-2Hydromorph. altered

MOROS-1Restored and managed

Mitigating capacity Warming capacity

WARMING POTENTIAL BALANCE IN

COASTAL FRESHWATER WETLANDS

RESTORATION

Mitigating capacityALTERATION

Warming capacity

MOROS-1Restored, managed

PEGO-2Morph. altered

PEGO-1Restored

MOROS-2Hydrom. altered

EFFECTS OF ALTERATION IN

COASTAL FRESHWATER WETLANDS

WHAT ABOUT

THE FUTURE

PROSPECTS?

Effect of environmental variables on GPP, Respiration and CH4 production

Sediment cores/lake:

• Temperature (4, 14, 20, 24, 30ºC)

• Salinity (0.2x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x)

• Water column vs. wet sediment

Acclimated in climate-controlled rooms for 4 days in 12 hours light/dark cycles.

Camacho et al. (2017). Water 9: 659

Exponential increase with temperature

Strong direct dependence of methane

emissions with temperature.

Exponential decrease with increased salinity

Methane production is inhibited by high

salinities

THE MAJOR ROLE OF METHANE EMISSIONS

Source: IPCC

RCP (Representative

Concentration Pathways)

% D

ec

rea

se

of

Pre

cip

ita

tio

ns

Ma

xim

um

tem

pe

ratu

rein

cre

me

nt

(ºC

)

Response of the biogeochemical cycles to the climate change effects by the study of the carbon cycle in

future climatic scenarios

Climate change scenarios

WATER DEPTH (m)

METHANE EMISSION (mg C m-2 d-1)

Precipitation (m)ET0 (m)

Aquifer Recharge

Water Volume(m3)

Water Surface (m2)

Soilmoisture

PLANKTON RESP. (mg C m-2 d-1)

PLANKTON GPP (mg C m-2 d-1)

CH4 EBULLITION (dehydratation)

T average (ºC)

CH4

EBULLITION f(T)

T water (ºC)Chemicalprecipitation

BENTHOS RESP. f(T)

T water (ºC)Daily light hours

Water Surface (m2)

PLANKTON RESP. f(T)

Water Surface (m2)

PLANKTON GPP f(T)

BENTHOS GPP f(T)

TOTAL CARBON BALANCE (mg C m-2 d-1)

Runoff

HELOPHYTES PRODUCTION (mg C m-2 d-1)

CARBON SINK CARBON SOURCE

GROSS PRIMARY PRODUCTION BALANCE RESPIRATION BALANCE METHANE BALANCE

Water Surface (m2)

HYDROLOGICAL BALANCE

CLIMATIC PARAMETERS

Precipitation (mm)

Daily light hours

T average (ºC)

T MAX (ºC)

T min (ºC)ET0 (mm)

R0 (mm d-1)

T water (ºC)

BENTHOS RESP. (mg C m-2 d-1)

BENTHOS GPP (mg C m-2 d-1)

Conductivity(mS cm-1)

Sal. factor

OVERALL CARBON BALANCE - MODELLING

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

RCP 2.6 RCP 4.5 RCP 6.0 RCP 8.5

Δb

ala

nce

s (g

C /

C-e

qm

-2y-1

)

Pego 1 site (scenarios 2050)

Δ C-Balance Δ GWP-Balance

0

500

1000

1500

RCP 2.6 RCP 4.5 RCP 6.0 RCP 8.5

Δb

alan

ces

(g C

/ C

-eq

m-2

y-1)

Pego 2 site (scenarios 2050)

Δ C-Balance Δ GWP-Balance

RESTORED

ALTERED

Increases of the sink capacity (negative C-balance)

Decreases of the warming capacity (negative GWP-balance)

Reduction of the sink capacity

Increases of the warming capacity

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON COASTAL

FRESWATER WETLANDS

A CLIMATE PERSPECTIVE IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

MANAGEMENT vs

ECOLOGICAL VALUES

BIOSPHERE RESERVE OF “LA MANCHA HÚMEDA”

A CLIMATE PERSPECTIVE IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

MANAGEMENT vs

REGULATORY SERVICES

BIOSPHERE RESERVE OF “LA MANCHA HÚMEDA”

Moltes gràcies per la vostra atenció

Muchas gracias por vuestra atención

Thank you for your attention

e-mail: antonio.camacho@uv.es

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EACH DROP MATTERS!!!