Methane production potential is higher in newly restored depressional wetlands compared to natural and older restored counterparts

• Increased potential for CH4 production in wetlands under two decades post restoration • Potential CH4 production rates correlate to soil Fe and herbaceous vegetation cover • Increased potential for aerobic CH4 oxidation in wetlands over 30 years post restoration • Anaerobic CH4 oxidation present in both restored and natural freshwater depressional wetlands. Wetland CH 4 emissions depend on rates of microbial CH 4 production and oxidation which vary spatially and temporally with environmental and edaphic characteristics. Differences between natural and restored wetlands compound this variation making it difficult to predict wetland CH 4 emissions. We quantified potential CH 4 production and oxidation rates in natural and restored depressional freshwater wetlands by collecting soil from three hydrological-vegetative zones in three natural and six restored wetlands. Restored wetlands were reclaimed agricultural lands restored 18 years or + 30 years before sampling. The 18-year post restoration wetlands had higher CH 4 production potentials relative to natural wetlands and + 30 year restorations. Aerobic CH 4 oxidation potentials peaked in + 30 year restored sites, but anaerobic CH 4 oxidation potentials were significantly lower in + 30 year restorations compared to natural sites and 18-year restorations. Environmental and edaphic measures did not vary with restoration age, however, and the potential for CH 4 production and oxidation were site-specific and correlated to measures of herbaceous vegetation cover (%), extractable soil Fe, and the depth of the organic soil layer. These findings suggest that newly restored sites may emit more CH 4 due to increased production, but as restorations age emissions may become more like their natural counterparts.