Authors:
Zuzana Urbanová, Tomáš Picek, Tomáš Hájek, Ivana Bufková and Eeva-Stiina Tuittila
Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress
Venue:
Stockholm
Keywords:
ch4, co2, drainage, plant-community, restoration
Documentfile:
Urbanová et al 2012: Impact of Drainage and Restoration on Vegetation and Carbon Gas Dynamics in Central European Peatlands
Summary:
Theme X. Peatland carbon budgets and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes
SUMMARY
We studied the impact of drainage and restoration by ditch blocking on different peatland plant communities and carbon gas dynamics in Šumava National Park, Czech Republic. Our results showed that total C balance was strongly linked to the existing plant communities which were the most important and reliable factor predicting carbon gas fluxes on studied peatlands. Drainage did not lead to a negative ecosystem C balance in all cases although it had significantly changed plant species composition in most areas. Original peatland species and functions appeared to be preserved in the less drained parts of the drained sites; those could facilitate future ecosystem restoration. Water regime restoration caused neither a significant change in plant composition nor any major changes, such as plant die-back or increased CH4 emissions during the first growing season after the restoration measures.