Seasonal variation in water chemistry over a bog-rich fen gradient in Continental Western Canada

Abstract

Surface and subsurface (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m depths) water was sampled weekly in 1989 and biweekly in 1990 during the ice-free season along a bog-rich fen gradient in central Alberta. Acidity–alkalinity were most closely related to peatland type and were the most useful parameters for characterizing peatlands. Potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations were more related to season, year, or peatland–year interactions and cannot be used to categorize the bog–fen gradient. Hydrogen ion, ammonium, alkalinity, and corrected conductivity were relatively constant throughout the ice-free season, while total metal ions (Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn), base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), nitrate, and components of phosphorus fluctuated seasonally. Nitrate remained constant with depth in all peatland types, whereas ammonium increased with depth. Relationships of surface water chemistry to pH for all sites showed three patterns: a positive and highly significant correlation with little seasonal variation within peatland types (base cations, alkalinity, and corrected conductivity); less significant correlation with strong seasonal variation within peatland types (N and P); and a general negative and highly significant correlation with some seasonal variation in peatland types (metals and S). Water temperatures increased along the bog-rich fen gradient.

Plant Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release in Peatlands

“…The high leaching of K from decomposing litter was already reported [Brock and Bregman, 1989;Sundstrom et al, 2000;, and it seems to explain the peaks of K concentration in peatland waters typically found outside the growing season, when plant growth has not yet started, but K is released by decomposing litter [Buttler, 1992;Proctor, 1992;Vitt et al, 1995;Bragazza et al, 1998]. …”

The Essential Role of the Lagg in Raised Bog Function and Restoration: A Review

“…The ratio is also influenced by the distance from the sea and precipitation volume (Waughman 1980). Glaser et al (1990) and Proctor (2003) found a Ca:Mg ratio of less than 1 in some of the bogs they studied, whereas Vitt et al (1995) observed a Ca: Mg ratio of 2.5 in a bog, compared to 1.2-1.8 in fen sites. Wells (1996) suggested a Ca:Mg ratio of 2.5 as the mineral soil water limit, while Bragazza and Gerdol (1999) recommended a limit of greater than 2.…”

“…Another well-established measure used to differentiate between bogs and fens is pH (Tahvanainen 2004;Sjörs and Gunnarsson 2002;Vitt et al 1995). Calcium may correlate with pH across the lagg transition, and it is common for both indicators to be used when surveying the poor-rich gradient (Tahvanainen 2004).…”

Mire vegetation of the Muránska Planina Mts — formalised classification, ecology, main environmental gradient and influence of geographical position

“…It could affect the results of studies about vegetation-environment relationship in the case when only one-time measured values are used (Asada 2002;Tahvanainen et al 2003;Navrátilová & Navrátil 2005). However, pH and conductivity of water belong to the relatively most stable measured environmental variables within spring fen water chemistry (Vitt et al 1995;Hájek & Hekera 2004). On the other hand, the decrease of water level causes the increase of water conductivity, whereas water pH is stable during water level fluctuation (Baumann 1996;Tahvanainen et al 2003;Hájková et al 2004).…”