Particulate organic carbon sedimentation triggers lagged methane emissions in a eutrophic reservoir

Abstract

Reservoirs act as carbon sinks when sedimentation of particulate organic carbon (POC) exceeds CO2 and CH4 emissions. Here, we study the poorly explored process where phytoplankton-derived acidic polysaccharides (APs) aggregate into particulate organic matter, promoting carbon export to sediments. This source of POC in sediments can mineralize to CO2 and CH4 over various timescales. Our research, centered on a Mediterranean reservoir, elucidates phenological trends of APs and POC sedimentation and identifies their predominant drivers. Our findings present synchronic sedimentation patterns of POC and APs but identify a 2-week delay between POC sedimentation and CH4 emissions. Despite its eutrophic status, our data demonstrate this reservoir's role as a carbon sink, sequestering 4.33 g C m−2 yr−1. This highlights the need to consider various time scales when quantifying carbon budgets in reservoirs.