Emissions of biogenic sulphur compounds from several wetland soils in Florida

Emission rates of the biogenic sulphur gases hydrogen sulphide, dimethyl sulphide, carbon disulphide and dimethyl disulphide have been measured from the exposed soils of five wetland plant communities in Florida. Dimethyl sulphide and hydrogen sulphide were the predominant species emitted. All the studied ecosystems showed diel variation in the emission rates of the biogenic sulphur gases with the highest emissions rates occurring early- to mid-afternoon, and the lowest emission rates occurring during the early morning. The relative magnitude of emissions from the individual ecosystems followed the trend Distichlis spicata > Avicennia germinans > Batis maritima ≅ Juncus roemerianus ≅ Cladium jamaicense. Only the emission rates from the peaty D. spicata site are comparable in magnitude to previous emission measurements in wetland ecosystems of Spartina alterniflora and associated mud flats. © 1987