Ecology

Productivity

Methane

Physics

Greenhouse gas

Macroeconomics

Methanogenesis

Atmosphere (unit)

Atmospheric methane

Biology

Environmental science

Anoxic waters

Eutrophication

Biogeochemical cycle

Thermodynamics

Nutrient

Economics

Limnology and Oceanography

Despite significant contributions of inland lakes to the global methane cycle, we lack a process‐based understanding of what regulates inter‐lake variation in methane emissions. Previous comparative work has identified a potential link between lake primary productivity and methane emissions; also, lab‐scale experiments suggest that the addition of algal substrate to anoxic sediments rapidly enhances rates of methanogenesis. This existing work indicates that primary productivity could enhance lake contributions to the global methane cycle. However, a more systematic investigation of the links between lake primary production, methanogenesis, and methane emission to the atmosphere is required to quantify the implications of increased cultural eutrophication for methane evasion from lakes. Using paired measurements of methanogenesis and methane emissions on 16 north temperate lakes, we documented a positive relationship between lake productivity and sediment methanogenesis rates. However, increased methanogenesis...

Productivity and depth regulate lake contributions to atmospheric methane