IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v8y2017i1d10.1038_s41467-017-01648-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Full-scale evaluation of methane production under oxic conditions in a mesotrophic lake

Author

Listed:
  • D. Donis

    (Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66)

  • S. Flury

    (Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66
    Stream Biofilm and Ecosystem Research Laboratory, Institute of Environmental Engineering, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 2)

  • A. Stöckli

    (Canton Argovia, Department of Civil Engineering, Transportation and Environment, Entfelderstrasse 22)

  • J. E. Spangenberg

    (Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), University of Lausanne, Building GEOPOLIS)

  • D. Vachon

    (Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66)

  • D. F. McGinnis

    (Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66)

Abstract

Oxic lake surface waters are frequently oversaturated with methane (CH4). The contribution to the global CH4 cycle is significant, thus leading to an increasing number of studies and stimulating debates. Here we show, using a mass balance, on a temperate, mesotrophic lake, that ~90% of CH4 emissions to the atmosphere is due to CH4 produced within the oxic surface mixed layer (SML) during the stratified period, while the often observed CH4 maximum at the thermocline represents only a physically driven accumulation. Negligible surface CH4 oxidation suggests that the produced 110 ± 60 nmol CH4 L−1 d−1 efficiently escapes to the atmosphere. Stable carbon isotope ratios indicate that CH4 in the SML is distinct from sedimentary CH4 production, suggesting alternative pathways and precursors. Our approach reveals CH4 production in the epilimnion that is currently overlooked, and that research on possible mechanisms behind the methane paradox should additionally focus on the lake surface layer.

Suggested Citation

  • D. Donis & S. Flury & A. Stöckli & J. E. Spangenberg & D. Vachon & D. F. McGinnis, 2017. "Full-scale evaluation of methane production under oxic conditions in a mesotrophic lake," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01648-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01648-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-01648-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-017-01648-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Elisabet Perez-Coronel & J. Michael Beman, 2022. "Multiple sources of aerobic methane production in aquatic ecosystems include bacterial photosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. César Ordóñez & Tonya DelSontro & Timon Langenegger & Daphne Donis & Ena L. Suarez & Daniel F. McGinnis, 2023. "Evaluation of the methane paradox in four adjacent pre-alpine lakes across a trophic gradient," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01648-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.