Assessing Carbon Sequestration in Ombrotrophic and Minerotrophic Peatlands of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula

Peatlands are a distinct class of wetlands that are characterized by their ability to sequester carbon through the accumulation of partially decayed organic matter. This slow accumulation forms peat layers that store large amounts of carbon over thousands of years. Their ecological role as carbon sinks makes peatland conservation critical for mitigating climate change, both by preventing the release of stored carbon through peatland degradation and by offering a natural mechanism for removing atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. This study evaluates total carbon stock in ombrotrophic bogs and minerotrophic fens across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to support urgent climate change mitigation efforts. By identifying which peatland type stores more carbon and poses a greater risk to carbon dioxide emissions when degraded, this research aims to guide wetland conservation priorities in southern Michigan. Soil samples were collected from eleven peatland sites in Southern Michigan (6 fens and 5 bogs) using a gouge corer and machete. Core subsamples were divided into 5- cm subsections and analyzed for organic carbon content (C organic %) through loss-on ignition. Total carbon stock (t C) was calculated for each site, and a Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess the differences in carbon storage in bogs and fens. Bogs stored significantly more carbon than fens in southern Michigan, with a mean carbon stock estimate of 649 (t C) compared to 255.42 (t C) in fens. This result supports the hypothesis that bogs would store more carbon and have higher organic C % than fens. Given their higher carbon stock, restoration and conservation efforts should prioritize bogs in southern Michigan to maximize potential climate change mitigations by limiting and preventing the release of CO2.