Study

Sphagnum reintroduction in degraded peatlands: the effects of aggregation, species identity and water table

  • Published source details Robroek B.J.M., van Ruijven J., Schouten M.G.C., Breeuwer A., Crushell P.H., Berendse F. & Limpens J. (2009) Sphagnum reintroduction in degraded peatlands: the effects of aggregation, species identity and water table. Basic and Applied Ecology, 10, 697-706.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use cutting/mowing to control problematic herbaceous plants

Action Link
Peatland Conservation

Directly plant peatland mosses

Action Link
Peatland Conservation
  1. Use cutting/mowing to control problematic herbaceous plants

    A replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in 2003–2006 in a raised bog in Estonia (Robroek et al. 2009) found that clipping competing plants did not significantly affect growth of Magellan’s bog moss Sphagnum magellanicum (data not reported). In six plots dominated by Magellan’s bog moss, vascular plants were clipped flush to the moss surface every May and September. Plants were not clipped in the six other plots. The height increase of Magellan’s bog moss was measured each summer.

    (Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)

  2. Directly plant peatland mosses

    A replicated, paired, before-and-after study in 2003–2006 in two raised bogs in Ireland and Estonia (Robroek et al. 2009) found that transplants of Sphagnum moss survived for three years at 5–125% of their original size. Three species were transplanted. For two species (red bog moss Sphagnum rubellum and rusty bog moss Sphagnum fuscum), larger 14 cm diameter transplants grew, or shrunk less (84–127% original size) than smaller 7 cm diameter transplants (25–113% original size). For the other species (feathery bog moss Sphagnum cuspidatum), shrinkage was not significantly affected by transplant size (large 18–56%; small 5–50% original size). In June 2003, 5–6 large (14 cm diameter) and 20–24 small (7 cm diameter) cores of single moss species, each 20 cm thick, were transplanted to bogs dominated by Magellan’s bog moss Sphagnum magellanicum. Transplants were arranged in sets of one large with four small. Fragment areas were measured from photographs taken in September 2006.

    (Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)

Output references
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