Coastal Marshes Contribute Little to No Methane to the Atmosphere

Question

Coastal marshes contribute little to no methane to the atmosphere due to high levels of ________.
A) Nitrogen
B) Carbon
C) Sulfate
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Coastal marshes contribute little to no methane to the atmosphere due to the presence of high levels of sulfate. Sulfate can act as an electron acceptor in the microbial decomposition of organic matter in the marshes, diverting the process away from producing methane and towards producing carbon dioxide. This is known as sulfate reduction and is a dominant process in coastal marshes.