Investigation of carbon retention capacities and changes in dissolved organic carbon amounts of active peat areas with important natural carbon sinks in Turkey due to climate change using artificial peat ecosystems (Peatcosm) method

With this study, the effects of climate change on peatlands were determined by simulating the environmental conditions in 2050 and 2070 according to three different climate change scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5) published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In this context; Physico-chemical analyzes of peat samples (pH, EC, redox, dissolved oxygen), dissolved organic carbon analysis, changes in soil enzyme activities were determined in each scenario. In addition, photosynthetic pigment analyzes, biomass analyzes, relative growth rates, plant antioxidant enzyme activities were performed on the plant samples grown in this system. According to the data obtained as a result of the study; It has been determined that Typha latifolia continues to develop in a healthy way in all climate scenarios. In addition, the presence of this species in peatlands has also reduced the amount of dissolved organic carbon in the soil. Our results showed that Typha latifolia can largely prevent the degradation of peat structure despite the changing environmental conditions and significant increase in CO2 concentration during its development, and it can be used in the restoration of peatlands whose structure has started to deteriorate in the future and to reintroduce oxidized peatlands to the ecosystem.