Effects of experimental drying intensity and duration on respiration and methane production recovery in fen peat incubations

► In degraded fen >50% of peat respiration concentrated in uppermost 5 cm of peat. ► Depth dependency explains lack of CO2 flux response to water table change. ► Peat respiration influenced by temperature and drying duration but not intensity. ► Recovery of methanogenesis from drought accelerates with soil temperature. ► Recovery of methanogenesis from drought slows with drying duration and intensity.