Research summary
Peatlands represent a globally significant stock of soil carbon and they exchange greenhouse gases (GHGs) with the atmosphere, including methane. Destabilization of peatland carbon stocks, in response to warming or other human-induced disturbance such as drainage and resource extraction, contributes to climate change.
Dr. Maria Strack, Canada Research Chair in Ecosystems and Climate, seeks to better understand peatland-climate interactions. She and her team are evaluating the effect of climate change on peatland greenhouse gas fluxes and investigating how industrial disturbance affects plant-soil interactions linked to carbon cycling. Results will help improve peatland management, enabling their use as natural climate solutions.