Recent Rates of Carbon Accumulation in Montane Fens of Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A.

Montane fens in Yosemite National Park, California, are accumulating carbon at rates comparable to those observed in rich fens of western Canada. This study quantifies recent carbon accumulation (past 50–100 years) using peat cores collected from three sites spanning elevations of 2070 to 2500 meters. Analysis revealed organic carbon densities ranging from 0.026 to 0.065 g C cm⁻³, with mean vertical accretion rates of 0.28 (±0.09) cm yr⁻¹ (1960–2011) and 0.18 (±0.04) cm yr⁻¹ (1910–2011). Corresponding carbon accumulation rates were 95.4 (±25.4) and 74.7 (±17.2) g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively. These findings suggest that temperate montane fens may play a significant but understudied role in regional carbon storage, though further research is needed to compare peat formation processes between boreal and temperate ecosystems.

Drexler, J. Z., Fuller, C. C., Orlando, J., & Moore, P. E. (2015). Recent Rates of Carbon Accumulation in Montane Fens of Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 47(4), 657–669. https://doi.org/10.1657/aaar0015-002