Fig. 3: Diagram of climate-driven woody plant expansion in peatlands and its effects on peat organic matter composition, microbial metabolism, and carbon accumulation.

Three pathways illustrate how woody plant expansion enhances carbon accumulation in peatlands: (1) increasing primary productivity, (2) altering peat organic matter composition by increasing aromatics and reducing carbohydrates, and (3) inhibiting microbial heterotrophic metabolism. Correlation coefficients (r) are shown, with blue arrows indicating positive effects and red arrows indicating negative effects.