MONITORING BIOGEOCHEMICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL DYNAMICS IN A NEWLY CREATED INTERTIDAL WETLAND: IMPLICATIONS FOR GREENHOUSE GAS FLUXES AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

This study investigates the biogeochemical and hydrological factors controlling estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in a developing intertidal wetland created during a flood defence improvement scheme in 2021. Through gas flux calculations, we assess whether the wetland located on the River Tamar, UK, has acted as a net source or sink of N2O and CH4 within the first two years since the wetlands creation. Additionally, we explore the application of remote sensing and high resolution drone imagery for mapping water inundation to understand hydrological factors contributing to GHG flux variability. Sampling 3 hours before and after high tide, our preliminary findings indicate significant (p < 0.05) seasonal variations in N2O and CH4 concentrations and estimated fluxes. Significant strong correlations were found between salinity, nitrite and GHG concentrations, indicating the importance of tidal and freshwater transport of material between the wetland and the river in driving microbial cycling of carbon and nitrogen. This study is actively taking place alongside the wetlands management plan and will continue to inform further wetland creation projects within the catchment. As nature-based solutions to flood risk, deteriorating water quality, habitat loss and climate change are implemented across the globe, understanding these dynamics is crucial for informing effective mitigation strategies to reduce GHG production in restored or created wetlands, thereby contributing to broader and achievable climate policies and mitigation efforts.

Primary Presenter: Jasmin Dorinda, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (jaur@pml.ac.uk)

Authors:

Jasmin Dorinda, Plymouth Marine Laboratory / University of East Anglia  (jaur@pml.ac.uk)

Andy Rees, Plymouth Marine Laboratory  (apre@pml.ac.uk)

Ian Brown, Plymouth Marine Laboratory  (ib@pml.ac.uk)

Vassilis Kitidis, Plymouth Marine Laboratory  (vak@pml.ac.uk)

Malcolm Woodward, Plymouth Marine Laboratory  (emsw@pml.ac.uk)

Jan Kaiser, University of East Anglia  (j.kaiser@uea.ac.uk)

Aser Mata, Plymouth Marine Laboratory  (asm@pml.ac.uk)

William Jay, Plymouth Marine Laboratory  (wja@pml.ac.uk)