Rewetting of drained boreal spruce swamp forests results in rapid recovery of Sphagnum production
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Published source details
Maanavilja L., Kangas L., Mehtätalo L. & Tuittila E.-S. (2015) Rewetting of drained boreal spruce swamp forests results in rapid recovery of Sphagnum production. Journal of Applied Ecology, 52, 1355-1363.
Published source details Maanavilja L., Kangas L., Mehtätalo L. & Tuittila E.-S. (2015) Rewetting of drained boreal spruce swamp forests results in rapid recovery of Sphagnum production. Journal of Applied Ecology, 52, 1355-1363.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Rewet peatland (raise water table) Action Link |
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Rewet peatland (raise water table)
A replicated site comparison study in 2011–2012 in 36 forested fens in Finland (Maanavilja et al. 2015) found that in rewetted sites, Sphagnum moss growth was greater than in drained sites, and similar to undrained sites. After 3–16 years, Sphagnum biomass growth in rewetted sites (147 g/m2/year) was significantly greater than in sites that remained drained (76 g/m2/year) and not significantly different to never-drained sites (128 g/m2/year). The same was true for length growth (rewetted: 6; drained: 3; never-drained: 5 g/m2/year). Of the 36 forested fens studied, 18 had been rewetted in 1995–2008 by filling or blocking drainage ditches, nine remained drained (ditches open) and nine had never been drained. In May 2011, nine 13 x 13 cm plastic nets were installed on the rewetted peat in each site. In May 2012, all Sphagnum growing above each net was harvested, then dried and weighed. Stem length was measured for 20 shoots/net. This study used the same sites as (30).
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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