Specialist butterflies benefit most from the ecological restoration of mires
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Published source details
Noreika N., Kotze D.J., Loukola O.J., Sormunen N., Vuori A., Päivinen J., Penttinen J., Punttila P. & Kotiaho J.S. (2016) Specialist butterflies benefit most from the ecological restoration of mires. Biological Conservation, 196, 103-114.
Published source details Noreika N., Kotze D.J., Loukola O.J., Sormunen N., Vuori A., Päivinen J., Penttinen J., Punttila P. & Kotiaho J.S. (2016) Specialist butterflies benefit most from the ecological restoration of mires. Biological Conservation, 196, 103-114.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Restore or create peatland Action Link |
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Cut/remove/thin forest plantations and rewet peat Action Link |
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Restore or create peatland
A replicated, paired, controlled, before-and-after study in 2003–2014 in 19 boreal mires in Finland (Noreika et al. 2016, same experimental set-up as 3) found that restoring mires by raising the water table and removing large trees increased the abundance and species richness of mire specialist butterflies. On restored mires, the abundance (1.8 individuals) and species richness of mire specialist butterflies was higher than on drained mires (0.8 individuals), and similar to pristine mires (2.9 individuals; data for species richness not presented). Prior to restoration, abundance and species richness were similar in sites to be restored (1.4 individuals) and drained sites (1.7 individuals), but higher on pristine sites (3.6 individuals). See paper for individual species results. Each of 19 mires comprised three habitats: drained sites which were restored during the study, drained sites that remained in forestry use throughout the study, and undrained pristine sites. At restored sites, tall trees were removed and the water table was raised. Nine mires were restored between 2004 and 2006, and 10 were restored from 2011–2013. Six 250-m transects were established in each mire (2 transects/habitat, 80 m apart). Beginning in May, butterflies were surveyed weekly in years before (2003 or 2010) and after (2007 or 2014) restoration at each mire (7–15 visits/site/year), and divided into specialists (species which predominantly occur on mires) and generalists (species which predominantly occur in other habitats).
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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Cut/remove/thin forest plantations and rewet peat
A replicated, paired, before-and-after, site comparison study in 2003–2007 in nine bogs and fens in Finland (Noreika et al. 2016) reported that a combination of tree thinning and rewetting reduced the number of tall trees for 1–3 years. Areas that were rewetted and cleared of trees contained fewer tall (>3 m) trees 1–3 years after restoration than before. Thus, the number of tall trees in restored areas became more like natural areas and less like degraded areas. Data were reported as graphical analyses and differences were not tested for statistical significance. Between 2003 and 2006, in each of nine peatlands, one area previously drained for forestry was restored by removing excess trees (above the natural tree density) and blocking drainage ditches. This was compared to one area that remained degraded (drained and fully forested) and one pristine area (never drained, sparsely forested). In 2003 (before intervention) and 2007, 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 (9).
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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