Study

Botanical data analysis 2013

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Rewet peatland (raise water table)

Action Link
Peatland Conservation
  1. Rewet peatland (raise water table)

    A replicated before-and-after study in 2006–2013 seven degraded peatlands in England, UK (Glendinning & Hand 2014) reported that following rewetting, plant community types and purple moor grass Molinia caerulea abundance typically did not change, but Sphagnum mosses became more abundant. These results were not tested for statistical significance. Initially, all seven sites contained wet heath plant communities. After 2–6 years, four rewetted sites were still wet heaths but three had developed peatland plant communities. Purple moor grass abundance was similar (present in 95–100% of quadrats) before and after rewetting in all sites. Sphagnum moss species became more abundant after rewetting in most (21 of 34) comparisons. Abundance of blunt-leaved bog moss Sphagnum palustre consistently increased (six of six comparisons). Sedge Carex spp. and common cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium abundance showed mixed responses depending on species and site. Between 2008 and 2013, one drainage ditch was blocked in each of seven peatlands. Vegetation (species presence/absence) was recorded before ditch blocking and 3–7 years after. In each site 120–160 quadrats (0.25 m2), arranged along a 30–40 m transect perpendicular to the blocked ditch, were surveyed in summer or autumn.

    (Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)

Output references
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