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Gaffney PPJ, Tang Q, Pap S, McWilliam A, Johnstone J, Li Y, Cakin I, Klein D, Taggart MA. Water quality effects of peat rewetting and leftover conifer brash, following peatland restoration and tree harvesting. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 360:121141. [PMID: 38781874 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Harvesting of plantation conifers on peatlands is carried out as part of restoration and forestry operations. In particular, in the UK and Ireland, conifer plantations on drained ombrotrophic blanket and raised bogs are increasingly being removed (by harvesting), along with blocking of drainage ditches to help raise water tables to reinitiate and restore bog vegetation and function. However, both tree harvesting and peatland restoration operations can have significant impacts on water quality at local and catchment scales. Previous research has suggested that leaching from leftover decomposing brash (tree tops and branches, including wood and needles) is the primary cause, while other work has suggested that release from rewetted peat also contributes to water quality changes. This research investigates the relative importance of peat rewetting, needles and branches on water quality using mesocosm experiments, to help elucidate the mechanisms behind water quality changes following restoration and harvesting operations. Peat and brash were collected from a drained afforested blanket bog in the Flow Country, Scotland. Short-term mesocosm experiments were conducted by incubating peat, peat + needles and peat + needles + branches with rainwater in quadruplicate. Brash from Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) was investigated separately, while we also conducted experiments with fresh and aged (∼18 months) brash. Peat, needles and branches all significantly impacted water quality in the order of branches > needles > peat, while concentrations of DOC, PO43-, NH4+, K and Mn were most impacted. Water quality impacts of spruce brash appeared generally greater than pine, while fresh brash had larger effects than aged brash. In our mesocosms, relative contributions to water quality changes were estimated by elemental yields. On average, peat contributed 25.4% (range 0.6-72.3%), while needles and brash contributed 19.7% (range 3.0-37.0%) and 54.9% (range 22.1-70.2%) to yields, respectively. We further estimate that 267 kg C ha-1 (255.8 kg as DOC, 10.7 kg as DIC), 27.4 kg K ha-1, 5.8 kg P ha-1 (as PO43-) and 0.5 kg N ha-1 (as NH4+) could be released from brash, over nine days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul P J Gaffney
- Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; Environmental Research Institute, UHI North, West and Hebrides, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, KW14 7JD, UK.
| | - Qiuhong Tang
- Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Sabolc Pap
- Environmental Research Institute, UHI North, West and Hebrides, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, KW14 7JD, UK; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Department of Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health, Trg Dositeja Obradovi'ca 6, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Anna McWilliam
- Environmental Research Institute, UHI North, West and Hebrides, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, KW14 7JD, UK.
| | - Jacqueline Johnstone
- Environmental Research Institute, UHI North, West and Hebrides, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, KW14 7JD, UK.
| | - Yuan Li
- Environmental Development Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Ilgaz Cakin
- Environmental Research Institute, UHI North, West and Hebrides, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, KW14 7JD, UK.
| | - Daniela Klein
- RSPB Forsinard Flows, Flows Field Centre, Forsinard, Sutherland, Scotland, KW13 6YT, UK.
| | - Mark A Taggart
- Environmental Research Institute, UHI North, West and Hebrides, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, KW14 7JD, UK.
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Douglas DJ, Tománková I, Gullett P, Dodd SG, Brown D, Clift M, Russell N, Warnock N, Smart J, Sanders S. Varying response of breeding waders to experimental manipulation of their habitat and predators. J Nat Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
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Germino MJ, Anthony CR, Kluender CR, Ellsworth E, Moser AM, Applestein C, Fisk MR. Relationship of greater sage‐grouse to natural and assisted recovery of key vegetation types following wildfire: insights from scat. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Germino
- U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 970 S. Lusk Street Boise ID 83706
| | - Christopher R. Anthony
- U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 970 S. Lusk Street Boise ID 83706
| | - Chad R. Kluender
- U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 970 S. Lusk Street Boise ID 83706
| | - Ethan Ellsworth
- Bureau of Land Management Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way Boise ID 83709
| | - Ann M. Moser
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game 600 S. Walnut, P.O. Box 25 Boise ID 83707
| | - Cara Applestein
- U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 970 S. Lusk Street Boise ID 83706
| | - Matthew R. Fisk
- U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 970 S. Lusk Street Boise ID 83706
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Pálsdóttir AE, Gill JA, Alves JA, Pálsson S, Méndez V, Ewing H, Gunnarsson TG. Subarctic afforestation: effects of forest plantations on ground‐nesting birds in lowland Iceland. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aldís Erna Pálsdóttir
- South Iceland Research Centre University of Iceland Iceland
- Department of Biology University of Iceland Reykjavík
| | - Jennifer A. Gill
- School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia, Norwich Norwich Research Park UK
| | - José A. Alves
- South Iceland Research Centre University of Iceland Iceland
- Department of Biology & CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies University of Aveiro Aveiro Portugal
| | | | - Verónica Méndez
- South Iceland Research Centre University of Iceland Iceland
- University Centre of the Westfjords Ísafjörður Iceland
| | - Harry Ewing
- School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia, Norwich Norwich Research Park UK
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Littlewood NA, Hancock MH, Newey S, Shackelford G, Toney R. Use of a novel camera trapping approach to measure small mammal responses to peatland restoration. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01449-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSmall mammals, such as small rodents (Rodentia: Muroidea) and shrews (Insectivora: Soricidae), present particular challenges in camera trap surveys. Their size is often insufficient to trigger infra-red sensors, whilst resultant images may be of inadequate quality for species identification. The conventional survey method for small mammals, live-trapping, can be both labour-intensive and detrimental to animal welfare. Here, we describe a method for using camera traps for monitoring small mammals. We show that by attaching the camera trap to a baited tunnel, fixing a close-focus lens over the camera trap lens, and reducing the flash intensity, pictures or videos can be obtained of sufficient quality for identifying species. We demonstrate the use of the method by comparing occurrences of small mammals in a peatland landscape containing (i) plantation forestry (planted on drained former blanket bog), (ii) ex-forestry areas undergoing bog restoration, and (iii) unmodified blanket bog habitat. Rodents were detected only in forestry and restoration areas, whilst shrews were detected across all habitat. The odds of detecting small mammals were 7.6 times higher on camera traps set in plantation forestry than in unmodified bog, and 3.7 times higher on camera traps in restoration areas than in bog. When absolute abundance estimates are not required, and camera traps are available, this technique provides a low-cost survey method that is labour-efficient and has minimal animal welfare implications.
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