Sulfate reductions rates in alpine wetlands, 2021.

Alpine ecosystems serve as crucial water resources for many areas of
the world, and biogeochemical cycling in these regions can influence
the chemistry of water flowing into downslope watersheds. Alpine and
subalpine wetlands are understudied systems of particular interest
since lowland wetlands are known to have high rates of biogeochemical
activity that can disproportionally affect carbon (C) and nutrient
uptake, sequestration, and transformations within the landscape.
Wetland processes play a central role in sulfur (S) transformations
and have conditions that can support sulfate reduction. Sulfate
reduction determines the sequestration of S in wetlands and interacts
closely with a multitude of other element cycles, including iron,
carbon, nitrogen, and mercury. As alpine systems warm due to climate
change, it is important to characterize the biogeochemical processes
at these sites to predict how they may shift in response. Sulfate
reduction rates were measured in three wetlands at the Niwot Ridge
Long Term Ecological Research site. A new radioactive tracer method
was adapted and streamlined to suit alpine soils. This work trials and
assesses various methodological approaches, as well as documents
sulfate reduction rates from these sites, the first time this process
has been measured at Niwot Ridge. Reduction rates at one site were
measured three times, to track changes across the Summer 2021 field
season.