Unfolding a peatland’s story: Assessing the restoration outcomes and driving factors from a disturbed minerotrophic peatland in Eastern Canada

IF 3.9 2区 环境科学与生态学 Q1 ECOLOGY
Aamir Shehzad Khan, Mélina Guêné-Nanchen, Line Rochefort
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Abstract

The peatland restoration method, the Moss Layer Transfer Technique (MLTT), has been successfully developed and implemented to restore Sphagnum-dominated peatlands in North America. The efficiency of an adapted version of the MLTT using fen plants for minerotrophic (fen) peatland restoration has shown mixed results, especially regarding the recovery of bryophytes. Additionally, due to differences in peat extraction histories, disturbances, restoration techniques, and desired ecological outcomes, European approaches cannot be directly applied to North American peatlands. It has been suggested that active rewetting alone could ensure fen plant regeneration post-restoration. As there is a growing interest in the minerotrophic peatland restoration, fen restoration methods after peat extraction needs to be refined, and the management process stands in need of new approaches. This study presents the first case of an ecosystem-scale fen restoration project in Canada at an industrial peat extraction site. It was restored in the province of Quebec in 2009, testing three different restoration approaches, including active rewetting only – REW, active rewetting, and peat profiling with vegetation removal – REW + PRO, and a combination of active rewetting, peat profiling with vegetation removal, plus mechanical reintroduction of fen plant material (MLTT) – REW + PRO + PLANT. This study aims to compare the pre- and post-restoration (13 years) plant communities using a BACI design (Before and After Control Impact). It focuses on the recovery of bryophyte carpets and evaluates the return of fen species as well as peatland generalists, marsh-swamps, and upland species. At the whole site level, the rewetting action had a prominent impact and major success in terms of an increase in the richness and frequency of peatland vascular plant species, but the recruitment of peatland bryophytes and particularly brown mosses was relatively much less successful. Active rewetting proved relatively practicable compared to the other two restoration methods, but to enhance its efficiency, it should not result in flooding, which could subsequently lead to helophytisation. The different vegetation outcomes of the restoration were influenced by governing factors such as processes associated with restoration methods (e.g., rewetting, pre-existing vegetation removal, and donor material reintroduction) and site-specific physio-chemical and environmental conditions. Our 13 years post-restoration surveys highlight that there are still large knowledge gaps and that increased, robust research into fen restoration is needed.

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来源期刊
Ecological Engineering
Ecological Engineering 环境科学-工程:环境
CiteScore
8.00
自引率
5.30%
发文量
293
审稿时长
57 days
期刊介绍: Ecological engineering has been defined as the design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and nature. The journal is meant for ecologists who, because of their research interests or occupation, are involved in designing, monitoring, or restoring ecosystems, and can serve as a bridge between ecologists and engineers. Specific topics covered in the journal include: habitat reconstruction; ecotechnology; synthetic ecology; bioengineering; restoration ecology; ecology conservation; ecosystem rehabilitation; stream and river restoration; reclamation ecology; non-renewable resource conservation. Descriptions of specific applications of ecological engineering are acceptable only when situated within context of adding novelty to current research and emphasizing ecosystem restoration. We do not accept purely descriptive reports on ecosystem structures (such as vegetation surveys), purely physical assessment of materials that can be used for ecological restoration, small-model studies carried out in the laboratory or greenhouse with artificial (waste)water or crop studies, or case studies on conventional wastewater treatment and eutrophication that do not offer an ecosystem restoration approach within the paper.
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