<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>One of the most important threats for open peat bog ecosystems is encroachment of woody species, which causes transformation of habitat conditions and leads to retreat of specialised species. Drainage increases the rate of succession. The aim of study is the assessment of human-accelerated succession in a transitional bog. The study was conducted in ‘Mszar Bogdaniec’ nature reserve (W Poland). The structure of vegetation and tree stands was described and compared using ordination methods. Near the peat bog border, tree stands of <italic>Betula pubescens</italic> developed. Towards the middle part of the peat bog, the number, cover and height of trees decreased. The central part of the peat bog was covered by <italic>Sphagno recurvi–Eriophoretum vaginati</italic> in dryer parts and <italic>Sphagno recurvi–Eriophoretum angustifolii</italic> in wetter parts. The study showed that the successional sequence in these conditions differs from the classical bog succession scheme. Despite high propagule pressure of <italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic>, the most important woody species was <italic>B. pubescens</italic>, which performed better than other species. <italic>Erechtites hieracifolia</italic>, an alien invasive herb species, which previously was rarely recorded in bogs, appeared when the bog was dried by drainage. In this study, it reached high frequency and abundance, which shows that it may be a next serious threat to disturbed wetland ecosystems.</p></abstract>

One of the most important threats for open peat bog ecosystems is encroachment of woody species, which causes transformation of habitat conditions and leads to retreat of specialised species. Drainage increases the rate of succession. The aim of study is the assessment of human-accelerated succession in a transitional bog. The study was conducted in ‘Mszar Bogdaniec’ nature reserve (W Poland). The structure of vegetation and tree stands was described and compared using ordination methods. Near the peat bog border, tree stands of Betula pubescens developed. Towards the middle part of the peat bog, the number, cover and height of trees decreased. The central part of the peat bog was covered by Sphagno recurvi–Eriophoretum vaginati in dryer parts and Sphagno recurvi–Eriophoretum angustifolii in wetter parts. The study showed that the successional sequence in these conditions differs from the classical bog succession scheme. Despite high propagule pressure of Pinus sylvestris, the most important woody species was B. pubescens, which performed better than other species. Erechtites hieracifolia, an alien invasive herb species, which previously was rarely recorded in bogs, appeared when the bog was dried by drainage. In this study, it reached high frequency and abundance, which shows that it may be a next serious threat to disturbed wetland ecosystems.

Encroachment of woody species on a drained transitional peat bog in ‘Mszar Bogdaniec’ nature reserve (Western Poland)

Poznań University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland

Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Dendrology, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland, phone: +48-61-8170-033, fax: +48-61-8170-166

Poznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Game Management and Forest Protection, Wojska Polskiego 71c, 60-625 Poznań, Poland

Folia Forestalia Polonica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

One of the most important threats for open peat bog ecosystems is encroachment of woody species, which causes transformation of habitat conditions and leads to...

Encroachment of woody species on a drained transitional peat bog in ‘Mszar Bogdaniec’ nature reserve (Western Poland)

Published Online: Dec 22, 2015

Page range: 160 - 172

Received: Apr 22, 2015

Accepted: Aug 10, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ffp-2015-0016

Keywords
succession, ordination,

© 2015 Marcin K. Dyderski et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Encroachment of woody species on a drained transitional peat bog in ‘Mszar Bogdaniec’ nature reserve (Western Poland)

Published Online: Dec 22, 2015

Page range: 160 - 172

Received: Apr 22, 2015

Accepted: Aug 10, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ffp-2015-0016

Keywordssuccession, ordination,

© 2015 Marcin K. Dyderski et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
succession, ordination,