Ecosystem scale methane fluxes in a natural temperate bog-pine forest in southern Germany

•Natural, temperate bog-pine ecosystem is a CO2 sink but a small source of CH4.•Overall, the ecosystem is a small net annual greenhouse gas sink.•At high water levels, methane fluxes correlate best with air temperature. Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange were investigated over 15 months above a natural bog-pine site in the pre-alpine region of southern Germany. The measurements indicate annual methane emissions of +5.3±0.34gCm−2a−1 and an annual CO2 uptake of −62±20gCm−2a−1, resulting in a global warming potential balance of −50±74g [CO2 eq.]m−2a−1. Air temperature was identified as the environmental parameter showing the highest correlation with methane production, except for periods with low water table (