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We investigated a possible mechanism underlying observed correlation between net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange and methane emission. Using the technique of 14C pulse-labeling, we traced the movement of carbon fixed by photosynthesis as it moved through wet sedge and moist tussock tundra plant-soil mesocosms and was emitted as methane to the atmosphere. The 14C tracer provided a definitive way of quantifying the fate of recently fixed carbon. Carbon fixed by photosynthesis was measured as emitted methane from both moist tussock and wet sedge tundra mesocosms within 2 hours after labeling. Integration of time series measurements of methane emission showed that recent photosynthates are an important source of carbon for methane production. Approximately 2% of carbon fixed by photosynthesis at peak growing season was subsequently emitted as methane from moist tussock tundra, and approximately 3% was emitted as methane from wet sedge tundra. Measurements of soil pore water carbon pools demonstrate rapid transfer of 14C from plant carbon to dissolved forms and subsequently to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or methane.

We investigated a possible mechanism underlying observed correlation between net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange and methane emission. Using the technique of 14C pulse-labeling, we traced the movement of carbon fixed by photosynthesis as it moved through wet sedge and moist tussock tundra plant-soil mesocosms and was emitted as methane to the atmosphere. The 14C tracer provided a definitive way of quantifying the fate of recently fixed carbon. Carbon fixed by photosynthesis was measured as emitted methane from both moist tussock and wet sedge tundra mesocosms within 2 hours after labeling. Integration of time series measurements of methane emission showed that recent photosynthates are an important source of carbon for methane production. Approximately 2% of carbon fixed by photosynthesis at peak growing season was subsequently emitted as methane from moist tussock tundra, and approximately 3% was emitted as methane from wet sedge tundra. Measurements of soil pore water carbon pools demonstrate rapid transfer of 14C from plant carbon to dissolved forms and subsequently to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or methane.

To increase our understanding of carbon (C) cycling and storage in soils, we used 14C to trace C from roots into four soil organic matter (SOM) fractions and the movement of soil microbes in arctic wet sedge and tussock tundra. For both tundra types, the proportion of 14C activity in the soil was 6% of the total 14C-CO2 taken up by plants at each of the four harvests conducted 1, 7, 21, and 68 days after labeling. In tussock tundra, we observed rapid microbial transformation of labile C from root exudates into more stable SOM. In wet sedge tundra, there appears to be delayed or indirect microbial use of root exudates. The net amount of 14C label transfered to SOM by the end of the season in both tundra types was approximately equal to the amount transferred to soils 1 day after labeling, suggesting that transfer of 14C tracer from roots to soils continued through the growing season. Overall, C inputs from living roots contributes 24 g C m-2 yr-1 in tussock tundra and 8.8 g C m-2 yr-1 in wet sedge tundra. These results suggest rapid belowground allocation of C by plants and subsequent incorporation of much of this C into storage in the SOM.