Palaeoecology and the conservation management of lowland raised bogs

Abstract

Eight cores of three metres depth, spanning much of the late Holocene, were removed from raised bog sites in north-west England, central Scotland and Northern Ireland (Arnaby Moss, Ballynahone Bog, Coalburn Moss, Cranley Moss, Deer Dyke Moss, Mullenakill Bog, Wedholme Flow, Wreaks Moss). In addition a 77 cm core of recent, secondary peat was removed from one site (Arnaby Moss) in order to investigate the dynamics of its growth. Sampling at 4 cm intervals, counts were made of the plant and testate amoebae remains. From this data thirteen plant communities are recognised on their appearance as discrete phases of stratigraphy and described according to their floristics. The depth to the water table predominating during phases of each plant community was predicted by a multivariate statistical technique using the data on testate amoebae community composition. The predominance of a hydrological gradient in determining vegetation composition is apparent in Detrended Correspondence Analyses of the vegetation data. Accordingly, a model is constructed that describes the relationship between water table depth and the plant communities in order to predict the effect of management or climate change upon the vegetation of raised bogs. Primary focus is paid to the regeneration of Sphagnum dominated communities and this phenomenon is considered from six starting points according to the state of the extent vegetation and the depth and quality of the water table. Contemporary vegetation data from the nine sites studies describes their current condition and on the basis of future management on or near these sites changes in the vegetation are predicted according to the model proposed. Radiocarbon dates taken from three sites permit the assessment of rates of change, between communities and their individual rates of peat accumulation. The effect of fire on the vegetation of lowland raised bogs is also considered.

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