Bog pool restoration is challenging, since these artificial waters are typically too deep for natural establishment of peat mosses. A study of Dutch researchers focused on the threshold for natural establishment and ways to overcome this. With BESE-elements we tested whether a state shift can be accomplished using floating biodegradable structures that mimic buoyant peat. The experiment revealed that the floating structures facilitated the growth of peat moss and pioneer S. cuspidatum and vascular plants. The studies findings imply that for successful restoration, there is a clear water depth threshold to enable peat moss growth. When using the right depth and technique there is no need for addition of large amounts of donor-peat substrate.
‘Overcoming establishment thresholds for peat mosses in human-made bog pools’ is now available in Ecological Applications! You can download it here
Researchers from the Netherlands collaborated in this research, authored by Ralph Temmink, NIOZ and co-authored by Karin and Wouter of BESE.
Photo credits: R Temmink, NIOZ
