Surface structure on abandoned upland blanket peatland tracks

Williams-Mounsey, Jessica; Crowle, Alistair; Grayson, Richard; Lindsay, Richard; Holden, Joseph

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116561

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…McKendrick-Smith, 2016), we found that nanotopographic structures displayed greater complexity (PDELAYED treatment) (Williams-Mounsey, Crowle,Grayson, Lindsay, & Holden, 2023) than on tracks…”

mentioning

confidence: 75%

“…We did not identify a significant seasonal effect on the sediment collection, suggesting that the track remains vulnerable to erosion processes throughout the year, consistent with findings on peat erosion from Li et al (2018). Waterlogging in bottom slope areas of the track sections was found to hamper the regrowth of vegetation on the track and led to filamentous algal growth in summer (Williams‐Mounsey, Crowle, Grayson, & Holden, 2023). We also observed the formation of several erosion features on the track areas during the project.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The removal of the track led to extensive bare peat areas with an increase in the mean bare area from 5% at the commencement of the study, to 30% by July 2022 (Williams‐Mounsey, Crowle, Grayson, & Holden, 2023). Large amounts of sediment were washed down the track as a result.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We recorded the loss of plant cover, including Sphagna , and nanotope structures after track removal (Williams‐Mounsey, Crowle, Grayson, Lindsay, & Holden, 2023), or the simplification of nanotope structure across the abandoned track sections, across the experimental site. The long‐term loss of surficial structure has also been documented along seismic lines (Stevenson et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tracks were drier at the surface than control areas along all three transect locations (Rut 1, Rut 2 and centre) with lower θ for all track locations in both surveys. Based on observations of the presence of higher quantities of Eriophorum vaginatum tussocks and Calluna vulgaris that we have previously recorded in track centres (Williams‐Mounsey, Crowle, Grayson, Lindsay, & Holden, 2023) we hypothesised that the centres may suffer from lower moisture levels than controls and ruts. We found that this was the case when rut data were aggregated, with the exception of Rut 2 in October where there was no significant difference to the centre θ value.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Blanket bogs exhibit significant alterations to physical properties as a result of temporary track removal or abandonment

Williams‐Mounsey,

Crowle,

Grayson

et al. 2024

Ecohydrology

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Temporarily consented tracks made from high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) mesh have been used to mitigate both the physical and ecological impacts on peatlands from low‐frequency vehicle usage. However, the impacts of mesh track removal or abandonment at the end of the consented period remain poorly understood. Over a 2‐year period, we studied replicate sections of abandoned mesh track which, at the start of the experiment, had been unused for approximately 5 years, on a UK blanket bog. Some sections were removed (using two treatment methods – vegetation mown and unprepared), whereas others were left in situ. Metrics were compared both between treatments and to undisturbed reference areas. Significant differences in surface soil moisture were found between abandoned and removed tracks depending on season. Control areas had higher volumetric soil moisture than track locations. Compaction was significantly higher across all track locations in comparison to controls (p < 0.001), but rarefaction was not recorded post‐removal, suggesting long‐term deformation. Overland flow events were recorded in rut sections for a mean of 16% of the time, compared to <1% in control areas. Sediment traps on the tracks collected 0.406 kg compared to 0.0048 kg from the control traps, equating to a per trap value of 7.3 g from track samplers and 0.17 g from control samplers. Erosion and desiccation features occurred on both removed and abandoned track sections. Both abandonment and removal of mesh tracks have a wide range of impacts on the physical properties of peatlands, suggesting that only where access is a necessity should such a track be installed.

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mentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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