Relationships between bryophyte production and substrate properties in restored milled peatlands

Abstract

The relationship between the small‐scale distribution pattern of bryophyte biomass on restored milled peatlands and substrate properties (e.g. moisture, pH, nutrients, and their ratios) was studied. Substrate properties may determine the species composition of bryophyte communities that have developed in such areas. Two experimental sites were established in northern Estonia where the moss‐layer‐transfer technique had been used for the revegetation of abandoned peatfields for almost a decade before sampling. Diaspores of Sphagnum species common on bogs were distributed in these sites. After 7 years one site was mainly dominated by Sphagnum whereas true mosses (Polytrichum strictum, Aulacomnium palustre, and Pleurozium schreberi) were abundant in the other site. Three moss groups were distinguished: Sphagnum, P. strictum, and other mosses based on cluster analysis. The biomass of Sphagnum was related to peat moisture and potassium content. For P. strictum the N/K ratio was important, and the production of A. palustre grew with the increase in the N/P ratio of peat. It was concluded that peat properties played an important role in the formation and development of bryophyte communities on revegetated peatfields on a small scale (<0.1 ha).

The effect of different treatments of moss layer transfer technique on plant functional types' biomass in revegetated milled peatlands

“…The number of samples for each fertilization treatment is represented in Table S6. The collection and analysis of peat and bryophyte samples in determining nutrient content, pH, and peat organic content are described in detail by Purre and Ilomets (2018).…”

“…The Kruskal–Wallis test along with the Mann–Whitney U pairwise comparison with Bonferroni correction were used to determine statistically significant differences in PFT biomass between sites and the applied restoration techniques. Bryophytes were divided into feather mosses ( Dicranum polysetum , Pleurozium schreberi, and Aulacomnium palustre ), Polytrichum strictum , and Sphagnum as described by Purre and Ilomets (2018). Vascular species were grouped into trees, shrubs, and forbs and graminoids.…”

“…On the one side, the experimental site was bordered by an interfield road and a sparse Betula stand, and on the other three sides by an abandoned milled peatland that had been restored between 2011 and 2015. The substrate properties of the Viru and Ohtu sites were described in detail by Purre and Ilomets (2018). The Seli site ( Fig.…”

“…(3) (NH 2 ) 2 CO (n vasc = 12; n bry = 70) techniques. Bryophytes were divided into feather mosses (Dicranum polysetum, Pleurozium schreberi, and Aulacomnium palustre), Polytrichum strictum, and Sphagnum as described by Purre and Ilomets (2018). Vascular species were grouped into trees, shrubs, and forbs and graminoids.…”

Growth characteristics of three Sphagnum species in restored extracted peatland

“…Early monitoring of the restoration has led to techniques to predict the outcomes and to make adjustments in restoration strategy to achieve the desired results (Poulin et al 2013; González & Rochefort 2014). MLTT has been effective in North America, but there are not many results from its application under northern European conditions (Purre & Ilomets 2018), which features, e.g. 30–40% less rain in the summer.…”