Differences in carbon density and soil CH4/N2O flux among remnant and agro-ecosystems established since European settlement in the Mornington Peninsula, Australia

National and regional C emissions from historical land use change (LUC) and fossil fuel use are proposed as a basis to ascribe 'burden-sharing' for global emission reduction targets. Changes in non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions as a result of LUC have not been considered, but may be considerable. We measured soil-atmosphere exchange of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in remnant forest, pasture and viticulture systems in four seasons, as well as differences in soil C density and the C density of remnant forest vegetation. This approach enabled comparative assessment of likely changes in ecosystem C density and soil non-CO2 greenhouse gas exchange along a LUC continuum since European settlement. Soil CH4 uptake was moderate in forest soil (-27 mu g C m(-2) h(-1)), and significantly different to occasionally large CH4 emissions from viticulture and pasture soils. Soil N2O emissions were small and did not significantly differ. Soil C density increased significantly with conversion from forest (5 kg m(-2)) to pasture (9 kg m(-2)), and remained high in viticulture. However, there was a net decrease in ecosystem C density with forest conversion to pasture. Concurrently, net soil non-CO2 emissions (CH4 and N2O combined) increased with conversion from forest to pasture. Since European settlement 170 years ago, it was estimated similar to 8114 Gg CO2-e has been released from changes in ecosystem C density in the Mornington Peninsula, whereas similar to 383 Gg CO2-e may have been released from changes in soil non-CO2 exchange processes. Principally, a switch from soil CH4 uptake to soil CH4 emission after forest clearing to agro-pastoral systems provided this further similar to 5% contribution to the historical landscape CO2-e source strength. Conserving and restoring remnant forests and establishing new tree-based systems will enhance landscape C density. Similarly, minimising anaerobic, wet conditions in pasture/viticulture soils will help reduce non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.