Wetlands and climate change

Introduction

Wetlands are environments at the fringes of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems – this includes the presence of ice (e.g. active layer overlying permafrost).

Over time, particularly in warm and wet environments, the growth of mossy vegetation can form considerable depths of peat bogs. Moss sequestrates (slowly) and stores carbon from the atmosphere forming an important carbon sink.Huge quantities of carbon are held within wetlands, roughly equivalent to that held within the atmosphere.

Wetlands across the world are responding to changes in the climate. Those in extreme environments, such as polar (Arctic/Antarctic) and tropical are most vulnerable to change.

Based on lecture by Professor Dan Charman (Exeter), Plymouth 22/11/19

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