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

Purre, Anna‐Helena; Ilomets, Mati; Truus, L.; Pajula, Raimo; Sepp, Kairi

doi:10.1111/rec.13246

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Species diversity was remarkably similar among natural, unrestored, and restored sites, even though unrestored sites yielded slightly fewer species. As in other studies with the present ecosystem (González and Rochefort, 2014;Purre et al, 2020), we show that low vegetation strata can recover in a matter of a few years after peat extraction has ceased, and that this recovery is facilitated by restoration in the case of moss and herbaceous (mostly sedges) strata (Rochefort et al, 2013). Moreover, we added support to the finding by Desrochers et al (1998) that tree cover overshot in old unrestored sites that of nearby undisturbed sites, a phenomenon linked to the regional establishment of grey birch (Betula populifolia) in disturbed bogs (Lavoie and Saint-Louis, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Avian recolonization of unrestored and restored bogs in Eastern Canada

Desrochers

Rochefort

2021

Preprint

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Over the last several decades, peat has been extracted from bogs of temperate, populated regions of Eastern Canada, leaving large areas devoid of vegetation if unrestored. For the last 25 years, projects have been conducted in these regions to re-establish vegetation and facilitate recolonization by wildlife. We tested whether vegetation structure and bird species assemblages 10 to 20 years post extraction differ among natural, unrestored and restored bogs at the scales of individual sites and entire bogs. We conducted bird counts and vegetation surveys between 1993 and 2019, using both point counts (309 sites) and Autonomous Recording Units (80 sites). According to our vegetation surveys, restoration of sites that were previously used for peat harvesting accelerated the establishment of Sphagnum and herbaceous strata, but ericaceous and tree strata were unaffected over a 17-year period. None of the bird species with large home ranges were associated specifically to natural, unrestored, or restored areas at the bog level. Bird species diversity was similar in restored and natural sites, but lower in unrestored sites. Alder Flycatcher and American Goldfinch occupied restored and unrestored sites more frequently than natural sites, independent of the number of years post extraction. Occupancy of restored sites by Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers increased over the years, reaching levels similar to those in natural sites 20 years after restoration was implemented. Occupancy of restored sites by Song and Savannah sparrows increased from 1993-2019 and diverged from their declining occupancy of natural sites. Species assemblages of restored and unrestored sites differed significantly from those of natural sites soon after peat extraction ceased or post restoration. But assemblages from restored and unrestored sites became progressively similar to those of natural sites during the first 20 years, especially in restored sites. We conclude that bird species assemblages of restored bog sites are converging toward those of natural sites, and that restoration provides novel habitats for regionally declining species, e.g., Savannah Sparrows.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Avian recolonization of unrestored and restored bogs in Eastern Canada

Desrochers

Rochefort

2021

Preprint

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“…Initial hydrological properties, peat degradation, nutrient status and restoration approach are likely to affect the revegetation and hydrological responses to increased water table. This would likely affect restoration trajectory and, subsequently, GHG fluxes over time (Nugent et al, 2019;Purre et al, 2020). Higher nutrient availability associated with fens might lead to a faster and more dynamic response to rewetting.…”

Section: Theoretical Effect Of Rewetting Forested Peatlands On Greenh...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Final composition will likely be a function of nutrient content and pH (Laine et al, 2021). There is evidence of effective restoration of ecological properties through rewetting (Menberu et al, 2016;Alderson et al, 2019;Ahmad et al, 2020;Purre et al, 2020), but this process might require up to 30 years and for some systems might not be possible due to changes associated with long term drainage (Holden et al, 2004;Kreyling et al, 2021).…”

Section: Restoration Phasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the second phase of restoration, soil CO 2 emissions are expected to be significantly lower compared with drained status because of increased water table (Wilson et al, 2016;Laine et al, 2019). Due to increased photosynthesis and decreased autotrophic respiration the system will be approaching to carbon neutrality during this phase (Laine et al, 2019;Purre et al, 2020).…”

Section: Co 2 Emissions Through the Restoration Phasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Back to the Future: Restoring Northern Drained Forested Peatlands for Climate Change Mitigation

Escobar

Belyazid

Manzoni

2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Draining peatlands for forestry in the northern hemisphere turns their soils from carbon sinks to substantial sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs). To reverse this trend, rewetting has been proposed as a climate change mitigation strategy. We performed a literature review to assess the empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis that rewetting drained forested peatlands can turn them back into carbon sinks. We also used causal loop diagrams (CLDs) to synthesize the current knowledge of how water table management affects GHG emissions in organic soils. We found an increasing number of studies from the last decade comparing GHG emissions from rewetted, previously forested peatlands, with forested or pristine peatlands. However, comparative field studies usually report relatively short time series following rewetting experiments (e.g., 3 years of measurements and around 10 years after rewetting). Empirical evidence shows that rewetting leads to lower GHG emissions from soils. However, reports of carbon sinks in rewetted systems are scarce in the reviewed literature. Moreover, CH4 emissions in rewetted peatlands are commonly reported to be higher than in pristine peatlands. Long-term water table changes associated with rewetting lead to a cascade of effects in different processes regulating GHG emissions. The water table level affects litterfall quantity and quality by altering the plant community; it also affects organic matter breakdown rates, carbon and nitrogen mineralization pathways and rates, as well as gas transport mechanisms. Finally, we conceptualized three phases of restoration following the rewetting of previously drained and forested peatlands, we described the time dependent responses of soil, vegetation and GHG emissions to rewetting, concluding that while short-term gains in the GHG balance can be minimal, the long-term potential of restoring drained peatlands through rewetting remains promising.

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“…Following peatland restoration, we should expect, among others, a typical plant cover dominated by Sphagnum mosses, carbon sequestration, typical hydrological conditions and, resistance and resilience to fire. If the effectiveness of peatland restoration has been well documented and assessed regarding the carbon storage function (Järveoja et al 2016; Strack et al 2016; Nugent et al 2018), characteristic vegetation (Poulin et al 2013; González & Rochefort 2014; Karofeld et al 2016, 2020; Purre et al 2020) and the typical hydrological conditions (Ketcheson & Price 2011; McCarter & Price 2013, 2015), the resistance and resilience of restored peatlands to fire has never been evaluated yet.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The resistance and short‐term resilience of a restored extracted peatland ecosystems post‐fire: an opportunistic study after a wildfire

Blier-Langdeau

Guêné-Nanchen

Hugron

et al. 2021

Restoration Ecology

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Bogs are known to be relatively resistant and resilient to fire, due to the dominance of wet Sphagnum mosses. Indeed, Sphagnum mosses by holding water, ensure bog resistance, and by regenerating from any fragments left post‐fire, ensure bog resilience. The return of several ecological attributes has been reported in the literature post‐restoration. However, the resistance and resilience have not yet been evaluated in restored peatlands. A fire affecting an extracted peatland restored 10 years ago provided the opportunity to (1) evaluate the losses post‐fire, in terms of phytobiomass and plant cover and (2) assess early vegetation recovery after one growing season post‐fire. The fire response of the restored peatland, in terms of resistance and short‐term resilience, differed between the main plant communities. Sphagnum Lawn communities (Sphagnum species from the Acutifolia subgenus and Eriophorum vaginatum) showed greater resistance to fire losing proportionally less phytobiomass (17%) than Wet Hollow communities (44%) (Sphagnum species from the Cuspidata subgenus and Scirpus cyperinus). Greater resistance of the Sphagnum Lawn likely comes from the Acutifolia Sphagnum species growing in dense carpets with good water retention, along with the E. vaginatum tussocks being able to retain humidity below the tussocks, whereas the looser growth habit of Cuspidata Sphagnum species do not have good capillary rise capacity and Scirpus produced litter that can produce a good fuel. This study reinforces the idea that a peatland restoration approach using reintroduction material dominated by Acutifolia Sphagnum species and tussock cottongrass provides a better resistance and short‐term resilience of restored peatlands.

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

Cited by 11 publications

References 52 publications

Avian recolonization of unrestored and restored bogs in Eastern Canada

Avian recolonization of unrestored and restored bogs in Eastern Canada

Back to the Future: Restoring Northern Drained Forested Peatlands for Climate Change Mitigation

The resistance and short‐term resilience of a restored extracted peatland ecosystems post‐fire: an opportunistic study after a wildfire

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