title: Greenhouse gas production and efficiency of planted and artificially aerated constructed wetlands.
abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by constructed wetlands (CWs) could mitigate the environmental benefits of nutrient removal in these man-made ecosystems. We studied the effect of 3 different macrophyte species and artificial aeration on the rates of nitrous oxide (N(2)O), carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and methane (CH(4)) production in CW mesocosms over three seasons. CW emitted 2-10 times more GHG than natural wetlands. Overall, CH(4) was the most important GHG emitted in unplanted treatments. Oxygen availability through artificial aeration reduced CH(4) fluxes. Plant presence also decreased CH(4) fluxes but favoured CO(2) production. Nitrous oxide had a minor contribution to global warming potential (GWP<15%). The introduction of oxygen through artificial aeration combined with plant presence, particularly Typha angustifolia, had the overall best performance among the treatments tested in this study, including lowest GWP, greatest nutrient removal, and best hydraulic properties.
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal 90, rue Vincent-D'Indy, Montréal (QC), Canada.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maltais-Landry
authors.forename: Roxane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maranger
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brisson
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chazarenc
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D017753:Ecosystem; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D032401:Typhaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D008697:Methane