Linking Carbon Fluxes to Flooding Gradients in Sediments of Mediterranean Wetlands

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

emissions were lower in well-aerated, less-flooded areas and highest in shallowly flooded zones, where even a thin water layer restricts gas exchange, limiting oxygen and maintaining anaerobic conditions for methanogenesis. However, the lack of a deep-water column prevented methane oxidation, allowing diffusion into the atmosphere. Seasonal variation was higher in saline wetlands due to drought, while patterns in freshwater and coastal wetlands remained spatially more stable. Understanding these gradients is crucial for accurately modeling gas exchanges and assessing their role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. As interest in wetland carbon dynamics increases, integrating this modeling into management is vital to support restoration and long-term wetland sustainability.