Investigators: Susan Ives, Paddy Sullivan, Roman Dial, Ed Berg, Jeff Welker

The Kenai Peninsula has experienced a long-term drying trend, resulting in decreased open water and graminoid habitats and an increase in shrubby forested habitats. Sphagnum-sedge fens are abundant on the Kenai Peninsula. As as the fens dry and woody vegetation moves in, the constraints on both photosynthesis (low leaf area index constraining C02 sequestration) and ecosystem respiration (low soil temperature and high soil water content constraining C02 release) are lifted.

Research site

The goal of this project is to determine which, if either, process dominates as these constraints are lifted. Are the Kenai Peninsula's drying wetlands sources or sinks of C02? This project involves measuring carbon flux monthly at established plots along a moisture gradient and instrumenting the site to allow continuous recording of environmental variables.