Name
What Controls Dissolved Methane in a Peatland-Fed Boreal Lake? A Preliminary Assessment of Water Chemistry Controls
Date & Time
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Description

Peatland–kettle hole lake complexes are a dominant feature of watersheds in the North French River (NFR) headwaters in the Hudson Bay Lowlands and play a key role in linking hydrological connectivity and the transport of carbon through watersheds. Despite their prevalence, little is known regarding carbon cycling within these lake systems, including, the vertical distribution of dissolved methane (CH₄) and its association with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and other hydro-chemical gradients. As a preliminary study, we examined dissolved CH₄ and water-chemistry profiles with depth in Tomorrow Lake, a peatland-fed kettle hole lake in the North French River watershed. Data were collected during three sampling campaigns in 2024 and 2025, including dissolved CH₄, DOC, water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and depth. Across all sampling dates, dissolved CH₄ concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 0.010 mg L⁻¹ and generally increased with depth. DOC concentrations varied widely (11–70 mg L⁻¹), specific conductivity (SPC) spanned 56–90 µS cm⁻¹, respectively, and showed little vertical patterning along the water column. Spearman correlation analysis showed a strong negative relationship between dissolved CH₄ and SPC (ρ = −0.86, p < 0.01), along with a moderate positive relationship between dissolved CH₄ and DOC (ρ = 0.38, p > 0.05), suggesting that dissolved CH₄ patterns may be influenced by both organic carbon availability and stratification or depth-dependent physical conditions within the lake. Future work will connect lake CH₄ dynamics with peatland hydrology and carbon transport across the North French River watershed. Keywords: Dissolved methane, dissolved organic carbon, lake complexes, hydrological connectivity

Location Name
McInnes Room
Full Address
Dalhousie University
Halifax NS
Canada
Session Type
Poster
Abstract ID
278
Speaker Organization
University of Waterloo
Session Name
B-3
Co-authors
Sandani Buddhima¹, A. V. P. S. Buddhima¹, Nicole Balliston¹, Syd Higgins¹, Miranda Hunter¹, Maria Strack¹¹ Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Presenting Author
Sandani Buddhima , Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo