After feral pigs disturb wetlands, methane emissions rise

Plots disturbed by pigs in Kakadu National Park emitted more methane and far more nitrous oxide than nearby reference plots.

Editorial illustration — not from the study.

Researchers compared six pairs of wetland sites in Kakadu National Park, with one disturbed by feral pigs and one reference plot in each pair. They measured emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, along with soil conditions linked to oxygen availability.

Methane emissions were significantly higher in disturbed plots. Nitrous oxide showed the largest difference: emissions from disturbed plots were up to about an order of magnitude higher than those from reference plots. The study also found that lower soil redox values—a measure related to oxygen conditions—were associated with higher methane emissions in pig-disturbed plots.

What the disturbed plots released

Disturbed plots emitted an average of 663 micrograms of methane per square metre per hour, compared with 375 micrograms in reference plots, although measurements varied widely. Nitrous oxide emissions averaged 81 micrograms per square metre per hour in disturbed plots and 11.9 micrograms in reference plots, with disturbed plots reaching up to 548 micrograms compared with a maximum of 20.4 micrograms in reference plots. The highest emissions were recorded at recently disturbed sites. In plots affected by pigs, lower soil redox values were associated with higher methane emissions.

Why wetland disturbance matters

Wetlands store large amounts of carbon, but disturbance can increase their greenhouse gas emissions. The findings indicate that feral pigs can affect the carbon cycle not only through damage to soil and plants, but also through higher methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The researchers say the results support developing a carbon-credit method linked to feral pig management, which could also support cultural and conservation goals in Kakadu National Park.

Evidence and caveats

This was a field study of six paired sites in Kakadu National Park, comparing pig-disturbed plots with reference plots. The differences in methane and nitrous oxide emissions were statistically significant, but the study covered a limited number of sites in one region. The measurements show an association between pig disturbance and higher emissions; the abstract does not establish how long the effect lasts or whether the same pattern occurs in all wetlands. The study measured carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, but the abstract reports clear treatment differences only for methane and nitrous oxide.

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