Mires and Peat

an online journal jointly published by imcg and ips

Volume 3 (2008): Article 1 

Geomorphological controls on the re-vegetation of erosion gullies in blanket peat: implications for bog restoration

by S.K. Crowe, M.G. Evans and T.E.H. Allott

Published online: 15.02.2008

Summary

This paper describes the natural re-vegetation of eroded blanket peat gullies in the Dark Peak National Park, Southern Pennines (UK). Sequences derived from the plant macrofossil records of nine peat cores indicate a two-phase process of re-vegetation consisting of (a) a primary (pioneer) phase of colonisation by Eriophorum angustifolium (common cottongrass), and (b) a secondary phase involving colonisation by up to six species, establishing to either wet bog or dry heath vegetation. The stratigraphy not only reveals temporal changes in the development of the plant communities, but also shows patterns in the upstream-downstream direction that give insights into how species spread from the initial re-vegetation zone. The locations where re-vegetation begins are hypothesised to be determined by local geomorphological controls that create zones of re-deposited peat offering favourable conditions for colonisation. Management intervention aiming to restore areas of blanket peatland affected by gully erosion should focus on mimicking these geomorphic controls to reinforce natural trajectories of recovery of the physical system. This would promote colonisation by naturally occurring species that are adapted to the specific local environment, and would thus maximise the probability of establishing self-sustaining restored peatland. 

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Citation

Crowe, S.K., Evans, M.G. & Allott, T.E.H. (2008): Geomorphological controls on the re-vegetation of erosion gullies in blanket peat: implications for bog restoration. Mires and Peat 3: Art. 1. (Online: http://www.mires-and-peat.net/map03/map_03_01.htm) 

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IMCG and IPS acknowledge the work of the reviewers.

Last update: 01.01.2010		www.mires-and-peat.net
Key title: Mires and Peat	ISSN 1819-754X	Abbreviated key title: Mires Peat