scholarly journals Mixing the Message: Do Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Affect Dung-Generated Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fallon Fowler ◽  
Christopher J. Gillespie ◽  
Steve Denning ◽  
Shuijin Hu ◽  
Wes Watson
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Literature Analysis ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

AbstractBy mixing and potentially aerating dung, dung beetles may affect the microbes producing the greenhouse gases (GHGs): carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Here, their sum-total global warming effect is described as the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Our literature analysis of reported GHG emissions and statistics suggests that most dung beetles do not, however, reduce CO2e even if they do affect individual GHGs. Here, we compare the GHG signature of homogenized (“premixed”) and unhomogenized (“unmixed”) dung with and without dung beetles to test whether mixing and burial influence GHGs. Mixing by hand or by dung beetles did not reduce any GHG – in fact, tunneling dung beetles increased N2O medians by ≥1.8x compared with dung-only. This suggests that either: 1) dung beetles do not meaningfully mitigate GHGs as a whole; 2) dung beetle burial activity affects GHGs more than mixing alone; or 3) greater dung beetle abundance and activity is required to produce an effect.

scholarly journals Carbon Neutral: The Failure of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to Affect Dung-Generated Greenhouse Gases in the Pasture

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1105-1116
Author(s):  
Fallon Fowler ◽  
Steve Denning ◽  
Shuijin Hu ◽  
Wes Watson
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Time Effects ◽  
Onthophagus Taurus ◽  
Ch4 And N2o ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Dung Decomposition ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

Abstract Research suggests dung beetles can churn, aerate, and desiccate dung in ways that influence the dung and soil microbes producing greenhouse gases (GHGs). We examined the impacts of the tunneling beetle, Onthophagus taurus (Schreber), and the dwelling beetle, Labarrus pseudolividus (Balthasar), on the carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emitted from pasture-laid bovine dung as well as their sum-total (CO2 + CH4 + N2O) effect on global warming, or their carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Despite dung beetles potential effects on CH4 and N2O, the existing literature shows no ultimate CO2e reductions. We hypothesized that more dung beetles would degrade pats faster and reduce CO2e, and so we increased the average dung beetle biomass per dung volume 6.22× above previously published records, and visually documented any dung damage. However, the time effects were 2–5× greater for any GHG and CO2e (E = 0.27–0.77) than dung beetle effects alone (E = 0.09–0.24). This suggests that dung beetle communities cannot adequately reduce GHGs unless they can accelerate dung decomposition faster than time alone.

scholarly journals Greenhouse gas emissions from the water–air interface of a grassland river: a case study of the Xilin River

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Hao ◽  
Yu Ruihong ◽  
Zhang Zhuangzhuang ◽  
Qi Zhen ◽  
Lu Xixi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Sand Land ◽  
Very High

AbstractGreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rivers and lakes have been shown to significantly contribute to global carbon and nitrogen cycling. In spatiotemporal-variable and human-impacted rivers in the grassland region, simultaneous carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions and their relationships under the different land use types are poorly documented. This research estimated greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) emissions in the Xilin River of Inner Mongolia of China using direct measurements from 18 field campaigns under seven land use type (such as swamp, sand land, grassland, pond, reservoir, lake, waste water) conducted in 2018. The results showed that CO2 emissions were higher in June and August, mainly affected by pH and DO. Emissions of CH4 and N2O were higher in October, which were influenced by TN and TP. According to global warming potential, CO2 emissions accounted for 63.35% of the three GHG emissions, and CH4 and N2O emissions accounted for 35.98% and 0.66% in the Xilin river, respectively. Under the influence of different degrees of human-impact, the amount of CO2 emissions in the sand land type was very high, however, CH4 emissions and N2O emissions were very high in the artificial pond and the wastewater, respectively. For natural river, the greenhouse gas emissions from the reservoir and sand land were both low. The Xilin river was observed to be a source of carbon dioxide and methane, and the lake was a sink for nitrous oxide.

scholarly journals Meta-Analysis of Strategies to Reduce NH3 Emissions from Slurries in European Agriculture and Consequences for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1633
Author(s):  
Christoph Emmerling ◽  
Andreas Krein ◽  
Jürgen Junk
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ammonia Emission ◽  
Ammonia Emissions ◽  
The Impact

The intensification of livestock production, to accommodate rising human population, has led to a higher emission of ammonia into the environment. For the reduction of ammonia emissions, different management steps have been reported in most EU countries. Some authors, however, have criticized such individual measures, because attempts to abate the emission of ammonia may lead to significant increases in either methane, nitrous oxide, or carbon dioxide. In this study, we carried out a meta-analysis of experimental European data published in peer-reviewed journals to evaluate the impact of major agricultural management practices on ammonia emissions, including the pollution swapping effect. The result of our meta-analysis showed that for the treatment, storage, and application stages, only slurry acidification was effective for the reduction of ammonia emissions (−69%), and had no pollution swapping effect with other greenhouse gases, like nitrous oxide (−21%), methane (−86%), and carbon dioxide (−15%). All other management strategies, like biological treatment, separation strategies, different storage types, the concealing of the liquid slurry with different materials, and variable field applications were effective to varying degrees for the abatement of ammonia emission, but also resulted in the increased emission of at least one other greenhouse gas. The strategies focusing on the decrease of ammonia emissions neglected the consequences of the emissions of other greenhouse gases. We recommend a combination of treatment technologies, like acidification and soil incorporation, and/or embracing emerging technologies, such as microbial inhibitors and slow release fertilizers.

The case for long-term studies of greenhouse gas emissions

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
TIM NEWCOMB
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Long Term Studies

Many nations have recognized the need to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The scientific assessments of climate change of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) support the need to reduce GHG emissions. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 1992 Convention on Climate Change (UNTS 30822) has now been signed by more than 65 countries, although that Protocol has not yet entered into force. Some 14 of the industrialized countries listed in the Protocol face reductions in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 10% compared to projected 1997 carbon dioxide emissions (Najam & Page 1998).

Global Warming and Biodiversity

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Noopur Khare ◽  
Divya Singh ◽  
Rama Kant ◽  
Pragati Khare
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Thin Layer ◽  
Glass Chamber ◽  
Water Vapors ◽  
Day By Day

Some natural and some artificial activities are responsible for global warming, which is not only affecting the environment but also humans at an alarming rate. The effects of global warming are seen in growing biodiversity. There are many greenhouse gases, which form a thin layer in the atmosphere making the Earth's surface warmer day by day. The presence of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapors are responsible for global warming. Global warming behaves like greenhouse in which a glass chamber is incorporated that allows the sunrays to pass inside the chamber but does not allow reflecting back from the glass. Due to this, the inside temperature of the chamber becomes hotter in comparison to the outside temperature. The maintenance of the temperature inside the chamber helps plant growth.

scholarly journals Frameworks for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipal solid waste in Oman

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 945-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariq Umar
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe Gulf Cooperation Council member countries not only generate the highest quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) per capita when compared globally, but also in most of these countries, such waste is just dumped at different landfill stations. In Oman, the total quantity of MSW stood at 2.0 million tons per year. The emission from this waste is estimated at 2,181,034 tons/year (carbon dioxide equivalent). This article attempts to develop frameworks that considered landfilling, composting and recycling of MSW.Design/methodology/approachTo know the composition of the municipal solid waste in Oman, a quantitative research method was employed. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from MSWM in this study focus on three major gases, CO2, CH4 and N2O. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2006 model is used to calculate GHG emissions from landfills and composting (IPCC, 2006). Four frameworks – baseline F0, framework F1, framework F2 and framework F3 – are outlined in this paper. The F0 represents the current situation of the MSW in which most of the waste goes to landfills and dumpsites. In F1, improved MSW collection service and landfilling are incorporated and open burning is restricted. The F2 considered landfilling and composting, while F3 is based on landfilling, composting and recycling.FindingsThe framework F2, which proposes the composting process for the organic waste which normally goes to landfills, results in the reduction of emissions by 40% as compared to landfill practice. Similarly, the samples of MSW collected in Oman show a good amount of recycling waste. The framework F3, which considers the landfill, composting and recycling, reduced the total GHG emissions from 2,181,034 tons/year to 1,427,998 tons/year (carbon dioxide equivalent), representing a total reduction of 35% in emissions.Research limitations/implicationsDifferent values such as CH4 correction factor, the fraction of degradable organic carbon and the fraction of DOC used to determine the GHG emissions from MSW considering landfilling, composting and recycling based on the IPPC model and existing literature review. The actual determination of these values based on the Oman conditions may result in more accurate emissions from MSW in Oman.Practical implicationsDifferent frameworks suggested in this research have different practical implications; however, the final framework F3, which produces fewer emissions, required a material recovery facility to recycle the MSW in Oman. For framework F3, it is important that the residents in Oman have enough knowledge and willingness to do the waste segregation at the household level. Apparently, such knowledge and willingness need to be determined through a separate study.Originality/valueThe frameworks F2 and F3 are considered to be more suitable solutions compared to the current practices for Oman and other gulf countries to reduce its per capita emissions from MSW and protect its local environment. There is a potential for further work that needs to explore the possible solutions to implement the suggested frameworks.

scholarly journals Share of road transport in greenhouse gas emissions in Poland in 1988–2015

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-20
Author(s):  
Zdzisław Chłopek ◽  
Anna Olecka ◽  
Krystian Szczepański ◽  
Katarzyna Bebkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Greenhouse Effect ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

Abstract The results of an analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory in Poland in the years 1988–2015 are presented, paying special attention to the impact of road transport on the intensification of greenhouse effect. The analysis was made based on the official results compiled by the National Centre for Emissions Management and Balancing (KOBiZE) at the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute. It was found that carbon dioxide emission represented the dominant part of the total GHG emissions, despite that there were other gases having far greater greenhouse effect potential. There was a general downward trend for the national annual emission of basic GHGs. The estimated share of road transport in the GHGs emission was not high: from 4% in 1988 to around 12% in 2015. For motor vehicles, there is a dominant share in the GHGs emissions of passenger cars: (50 ÷ 60)%. In the years 1988–2015, there was a relative decrease by about 32% in the national annual emission of carbon dioxide equivalent from all sources covered by the inventory. That notwithstanding, the national annual emission of carbon dioxide equivalent arising from transportation increased generally by about 93% and that from the road transport increased by as much as 117%. The increase in GHGs emissions from motor vehicles resulted mainly from a significant growth in car numbers. Technical progress in the construction of motor vehicles can be evaluated by considering the average annual emission of carbon dioxide equivalent from a conventional car, which has been decreasing since 1998.

scholarly journals Do greenhouse gas mitigation cost-effectiveness rankings based on the global warming potential favor sub-optimal allocation of resources?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz Weiss ◽  
Adrian Leip ◽  
Vera Eory
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures

Abstract The global warming potential GWPgas(H) relates radiative forcing of a single pulse emission of a greenhouse gas, the absolute global warming potential AGWPgas(H), to the respective radiative forcing of carbon dioxide over a defined time horizon H. Mitigation measures targeting short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) or reversible measures need to be applied permanently to be effective in the long run, but cost effectiveness for a permanent application of a measure differs from a single application. We propose a concept for an absolute global warming potential of permanent yearly pulses AGWP’gas(H), and several options for alternative indices to replace or complement the GWP: For the GWPgas(H/H) and the GWPcgas(H/H) we keep the AGWPCO2(H) in the denominator, which allows the direct comparison with conventional estimates, while for the GWP’gas(H) we define a new metric replacing the denominator by the AGWP’CO2(H). Different cost-effectiveness indicators can be defined respectively. We demonstrate the concept on the example of typical greenhouse gases emitted or removed by the agricultural sector: methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide, fossil and stored as soil carbon. We show that, compared to GWP-based cost-effectiveness analysis, measures targeting soil carbon are discouraged relative to measures targeting methane, nitrous oxide and fossil carbon dioxide.

scholarly journals Incorporation of Innovative Mechanisms for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 118-124
Author(s):  
Krishna Anand ◽  
Sundara Raman
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Gas Emission ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction

Spiraling continued increase in Emission of Green House Gases [GHG] play a significant role in impacting the environment and also human beings at large. Although recent studies have concentrated to an extent on developing schemes for reduction of Carbon dioxide emission and have identified methodologies in implementing the same, sufficient amount of studies have not been done on other greenhouse gases which also have adverse global impact as Carbon dioxide. Applications where methane and, nitrous oxide are emitted in abundance have continued to flourish. This work focuses on select methodologies in reducing all types of Greenhouse gases giving a larger amount of importance to ones which are more severe and the ones that cause depletion of ozone layer. Research findings have shown that majority of greenhouse gas emissions occur as a result of industry advances. Hence, as time is running out, there is an urgent need in identifying ways to mitigate these GHG emissions, thereby contributing to cleaner and healthier environment.

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