Rapid recovery of invertebrate communities after ecological restoration of boreal mires

Published source details Noreika N., Kotiaho J.S., Penttinen J., Punttila P., Vuori A., Pajunen T., Autio O., Loukola O.J. & Kotze D.J. (2015) Rapid recovery of invertebrate communities after ecological restoration of boreal mires. Restoration Ecology, 23, 566-579.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore or create peatland Action Link
	Cut/remove/thin forest plantations and rewet peat Action Link

Restore or create peatland

A replicated, paired, site comparison study in 2007 in nine boreal mires in Central Finland and Northern Karelia, Finland (Noreika et al. 2015, same experimental set-up as 5) found that mires restored by ditch-filling and tree cutting had moth communities which were intermediate between those found on drained and pristine mires. One–three years after restoration, the moth community on restored mires was intermediate between the communities found on drained and pristine mires (data presented as model results). One of three mire specialist micro-moths (rush marble Bactra lancealana) and one of two specialist macro-moths (Manchester treble-bar Carsia sororiata) were more numerous in restored than drained sites, but were most abundant in pristine sites. However, one specialist micro-moth (Crambus alienellus) and one specialist macro-moth (Arichanna melanaria) were more abundant in the drained sites than restored sites. A third specialist micro-moth (pearl-band grass-veneer Catoptria margaritella) did not differ in abundance between restored, drained and pristine sites (see paper for details). In the 1960s and 1970s, parts of nine mires were drained for forestry. From 2003–2006, some drained areas were restored by filling ditches with peat, damming the ends with logs and peat, and cutting trees. Each mire also contained a pristine, undrained area. In 2007, moths were sampled along two 250-m transects in each restored, drained and pristine area (six transects/mire). From May–August, micro-moths were sampled weekly using 100 sweeps/transect of a 28-cm diameter net at all nine mires. From May–July, macro-moths were counted weekly along each transect at five of the mires.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
Cut/remove/thin forest plantations and rewet peat

A replicated, paired, site comparison study in 2003–2007 in nine bogs and fens in Finland (Noreika et al. 2015) reported that areas restored by tree thinning and rewetting had moss cover and tree structure intermediate between degraded (forested and drained) and natural (sparse trees, never drained) areas. After 1–3 years, restored areas had greater Sphagnum moss cover but less cover of other mosses than degraded areas, but less Sphagnum moss cover and greater cover of other mosses than natural areas. Restored areas had fewer tall trees (>3 m) than degraded areas, but more tall trees than natural areas. All data were reported as graphical analyses and differences were not tested for statistical significance. Between 2003 and 2006, in each of nine degraded peatlands, one area was managed by removing excess trees (above the natural tree density) and blocking drainage ditches. In each peatland, one degraded and one pristine area were also monitored. In 2007, vegetation cover was visually estimated in twenty-four 1 m² quadrats/area (72 quadrats/peatland). Trees were counted and measured in six 100 m² plots/area (18 plots/peatland). This study was based on the same experimental set-up as (11).

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)