Littoral and wetland vegetation decrease carbon emissions from dry inland waters
Abstract
Lakes are recognized as active components of the inland water carbon (C) cycle, as organic matter is processed by microbial respiration, inducing large carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) emissions. In the context of long-lasting drought periods, large uncertainties remain about: (1) the influence of wet-dry cycle on CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes in littoral zones and lacustrine wetlands; and (2) the contribution of emergent vegetation to C fluxes in dry inland waters. At the water-land interface of two shallow lakes, this study focuses on CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes from vegetated and bare dry inland waters in relation to hydrological fluctuations. Three seasonal campaigns were conducted to measure daytime CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes in pelagic, littoral and wetland surface waters, as well as in temporarily air-exposed sediments, using floating and static chambers, respectively. Our results reveal that wet-dry cycle in the littoral zone and wetlands strongly influence gaseous C fluxes through contrasting patterns, especially in late summer, when the biological processes are most active (primary production and respiration). In air-exposed littoral zones, organic-poor sandy sediments presented the lowest CO 2 and CH 4 emissions, whereas in air-exposed lacustrine wetlands, water-saturated sediments accumulated high amounts of plant-derived organic matter, promoting intense microbial activity and the highest C emissions. However, amphiphytes and helophytes vegetation in exposed littoral zones and wetlands reversed the direction of C fluxes, inducing the highest CO 2 uptake due to high photosynthesis rates. This study underlines the relevance of considering vegetation in dry inland waters, particularly in lacustrine littoral zones and wetlands, to obtain comprehensive lake C budgets, especially under climate change scenarios.
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BibTeX
@article{mayen2026littoral,
title = {{Littoral and wetland vegetation decrease carbon emissions from dry inland waters}},
author = {Jérémy Mayen and Marco Bartoli and Sara Benelli and Vincent Bertrin and Bianca Maria Lecchini and Gwilherm Jan and Nathalie Labourdette and Cristina Ribaudo},
journal = {Journal of Environmental Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2026.04.031},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05769430v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Littoral and wetland vegetation decrease carbon emissions from dry inland waters
AU - Jérémy Mayen
AU - Marco Bartoli
AU - Sara Benelli
AU - Vincent Bertrin
AU - Bianca Maria Lecchini
AU - Gwilherm Jan
AU - Nathalie Labourdette
AU - Cristina Ribaudo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Journal of Environmental Sciences
DO - 10.1016/j.jes.2026.04.031
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05769430v1
AB - Lakes are recognized as active components of the inland water carbon (C) cycle, as organic matter is processed by microbial respiration, inducing large carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) emissions. In the context of long-lasting drought periods, large uncertainties remain about: (1) the influence of wet-dry cycle on CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes in littoral zones and lacustrine wetlands; and (2) the contribution of emergent vegetation to C fluxes in dry inland waters. At the water-land interface of two shallow lakes, this study focuses on CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes from vegetated and bare dry inland waters in relation to hydrological fluctuations. Three seasonal campaigns were conducted to measure daytime CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes in pelagic, littoral and wetland surface waters, as well as in temporarily air-exposed sediments, using floating and static chambers, respectively. Our results reveal that wet-dry cycle in the littoral zone and wetlands strongly influence gaseous C fluxes through contrasting patterns, especially in late summer, when the biological processes are most active (primary production and respiration). In air-exposed littoral zones, organic-poor sandy sediments presented the lowest CO 2 and CH 4 emissions, whereas in air-exposed lacustrine wetlands, water-saturated sediments accumulated high amounts of plant-derived organic matter, promoting intense microbial activity and the highest C emissions. However, amphiphytes and helophytes vegetation in exposed littoral zones and wetlands reversed the direction of C fluxes, inducing the highest CO 2 uptake due to high photosynthesis rates. This study underlines the relevance of considering vegetation in dry inland waters, particularly in lacustrine littoral zones and wetlands, to obtain comprehensive lake C budgets, especially under climate change scenarios.
SN - 1001-0742
ER -