Article
| Article name | CARBON AND NITROGEN ACCUMULATION IN PEATLANDS OF THE MORDOVIA STATE NATURE RESERVE (EUROPEAN RUSSIA) DURING THE HOLOCENE |
| Authors | Elena Yu. Novenko, PhD, Dr.Sc., Main Researcher, Department of Quaternary Paleogeography, Institute of Geography of RAS (119017, Russia, Moscow, Staromonetny Lane, 29); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2174-8467; e-mail: lenanov@mail.ru |
| Reference to article | Novenko E.Yu., Mazei N.G., Prokushkin A.S., Zazovskaya E.P., Shatunov A.E., Kupriyanov D.A., Kusilman M.V. 2026. Carbon and nitrogen accumulation in peatlands of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (European Russia) during the Holocene. Nature Conservation Research 11(2): 43–66. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2026.012 Electronic Supplement 1. Additional information to the paper by Novenko et al. (2026) (Link). |
| Section | Research articles |
| DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2026.012 |
| Abstract | The study focuses on peatland evolution and carbon and nitrogen sequestrations in peatlands of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (European Russia). A quantitative assessment of carbon accumulation rate (CAR) and nitrogen accumulation rate (NAR) during the Holocene, and their relationship to the botanical composition of peat, climatic changes and fire frequencies, was carried out using two peatlands (namely Dolgiy Most and Zhegalovskoe) as case studies. An analysis of peat macro-remains, loss on ignition, peat humification measurements, and elemental carbon and nitrogen analysis, as well as radiocarbon dating, formed the basis of the studies. Statistical data processing was performed using correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the carbon content of rich fen peat with a predominance of herbal plant remains is 46.9–60.9% (average 54.6%), which is generally higher than the carbon content of poor fen peat composed of woody plant remains, Eriophorum and Sphagnum mosses, which is 43.6–50.1% (average 47.8%). The mean CAR values were 31.6 g C/m2 per year for the Dolgiy Most peatland and 13.3 g C/m2 per year for the Zhegalovskoe peatland, while the NAR values were 1.04 g N/m2 per year and 0.46 g N/m2 per year, respectively. Significant differences in the CAR:NAR ratio were observed across various types of peat, ranging from 20:1 for Sphagnum peat to 34:1 for woody peat. Comparing the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen accumulation with Holocene climate changes revealed that periods of high accumulation corresponded to wet and cool conditions. Conversely, a decrease in accumulation rates coincided with arid phases and increased fire activity. |
| Keywords | botanical composition of peat, carbon sequestration, climate dynamics, elemental analysis of peat, nitrogen sequestration, peat accumulation, peat dry bulk density, peat humification, wetland ecosystems |
| Artice information | Received: 05.08.2025. Revised: 10.02.2026. Accepted: 17.02.2026. |
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