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Restoration and recovery of Sphagnum on degraded blanket bog
Angus Rosenburgh Division of Biology & Conservation Ecology Manchester Metropolitan University
Restoration and recovery of Sphagnum on degraded blanket bog Angus - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Restoration and recovery of Sphagnum on degraded blanket bog Angus - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Restoration and recovery of Sphagnum on degraded blanket bog Angus Rosenburgh Division of Biology & Conservation Ecology Manchester Metropolitan University Where? Where did it go? Pollution post-industrial revolution Inappropriate
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Where did it go?
Pollution post-industrial revolution Inappropriate land management Stocking density too high Poor burning regime Wildfire Deliberate/ Accidental Natural
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Where did it go?
Data from Ferguson & Lee, 1983
100 200 300 400 500 600 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 µg m-3
Atmospheric mean annual SO2
Manchester Holme Moss
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Where did it go?
Data from the UK Air Quality Archive
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 Year Gas Concentration (ugram m
- 3)
Ozone NO2 SO2
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What are the problems now?
Large, bare peat areas Lack of suitable propagules Harsh environmental conditions Legacy of industrial pollution
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However...
Not all bad news Natural recovery
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Sphagnum Other mosses Liverw orts Total bryophytes Species / Varieties Holme Moss 1983-4 Holme Moss 2005
Caporn et al., 2006
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Penny Anderson Associates, Moors for the Future, Natural England, Manchester Metropolitan University
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How to improve?
Limiting factor - Sphagnum propagules Introduce more! Brash Sphagnum mulch
- Each method has its
pros and cons
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Where, when & how?
Sphagnum species trial S.cuspidatum S.fallax S.fimbriatum S.palustre S.papillosum Different substrates Bare Treated Intact Seasonality Sowing November ‘09 April ‘10 August ‘10 September ‘10 Indoor experiment Holme Moss peat Commercial peat Climate eliminated
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Sphagnum propagule source
Heather brash Sphagnum mulch / Harvested Sphagnum
- Heather brash, Sphagnum mulch + heather brash,
BeadaMoss (S.fallax + S.palustre) + heather brash Bare and treated surfaces Indoor experiment on Holme Moss and commercial peat
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Species and seasonality trials
Proven success in preliminary trials Hard winter Tough summer Beads still present in the field
Photos by S.Hinde
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Sphagnum propagule source trial
Applied thickly Mobile peat surface Grass barrier
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Indoor trials
Answer specific questions Still poorer performance Commercial peat Holme Moss peat
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Sphagnum mulch- Commercial peat
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Sphagnum mulch- Holme Moss peat
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Peat chemistry
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Drought experiment
Desiccation is problem Series of bead treatments, S.fallax and S.palustre Improve drought resistance Growth cabinet- highly controlled environmental conditions
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Drought experiment
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What next?
Micro-climate importance & provision Facilitation experiment Alternative degraded bog sites Molinia Peat pans Diversification Lowland raised bog (cutting, forestry, etc.) All related to environmental variables; physical, chemical, meteorological, etc. Complete just in time to provide guidance to MoorLIFE
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