Acidic Peat Wetland Complex
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Organic matter accumulation over time, colonization of native ericaceous shrubs [creation of ombrotrophic conditions] (decadal/ century scale)
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Transition T1B
Decrease in long-term hydroperiods, peat decomposition, woody shrub proliferation
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Transition T1C
Lowering of soil surface below permanent water surface
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Transition T2A
Site enrichment via long term changes through surface or subsurface water quality (decadal scale)
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Transition T2B
Decrease in long-term hydroperiods, peat decomposition, woody shrub proliferation
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Transition T2C
Lowering of soil surface below permanent water surface
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Restoration pathway R4A
Organic matter accumulation over time, colonization of native bog mosses [creation of acidic conditions] (decadal/ century scale)
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
These are open peatlands dominated by a nearly continuous cover of bryophytes (greater than 75 percent), often identified as Sphagnum moss. Dwarf shrubs will be sparse to absent (less than 25 percent cover) and often less than 3 feet (1 meter) in height. Graminoids and forbs can be locally abundant but typically sparse (up to or greater than 40 percent cover locally but most often less than 25 percent cover). Trees and tall shrubs will often be sparse to absent (less than 25 percent cover) and will often be stunted and scattered individuals. This state will often form complex mosaics with other states and can be distinguished by the dominance of Sphagnum and receival of mineral enrichment from groundwater seepage or open water associations. More study is required to determine if these states or communities may transition between one another.
Within the Northeast US, this state correlates to Maine’s “Mossy Bog Mat” concept (Gawler and Cutko 2010), New Hampshire’s “Mud-Bottoms, Open Moss Lawns, and Flarks” community group [specific NH community types are assigned to specific phases] (Sperduto and Nichols 2012), New York’s “Inland Poor Fen” concept (Edinger et al. 2014) and Vermont’s “Poor Fens” concept (Thompson, Sorenson, and Zaino 2019). Communities of this state will also correlate to LandFires’ “Eastern Boreal – Sub-Boreal Acidic Basic Fen” concept (CES201.583). The various community phases included in this state will be related to different NatureServe community types and will differentiate from other Sphagnum-based peatland vegetation types by the very low abundance of vascular plants.
Submodel
Description
These are open peatlands dominated by a nearly continuous cover of bryophytes (greater than 75 percent), often identified as Sphagnum moss. Dwarf shrubs (<3 feet [1meter]) will be abundant to dominant and can form a dense, low woody layer, with tall shrubs and trees being sparse to absent (less than 25 percent cover). Graminoids and forbs will often be sparse (less than 25 percent cover) and will occur primarily on hummocks and microhighs, unless specially adapted to the acidic waterlogged conditions. This state will often form complex mosaics with other states and can be distinguished by the dominance of Sphagnum and dwarf shrubs in ombrotrophic settings, receiving water and nutrients solely from precipitation.
Within the Northeast US, this state correlates to Maine’s “Leatherleaf Bog” & “Dwarf Shrub Bog” concepts (Gawler and Cutko 2010), New Hampshire’s “Dwarf- and Medium- Shrub Bogs and Poor Fens” community group [specific NH community types are assigned to specific phases] (Sperduto and Nichols 2012), New York’s “Patterned Peatland” & “Dwarf Shrub Bog” concepts (Edinger et al. 2014) and Vermont’s “Dwarf Shrub Bog” concept (Thompson, Sorenson, and Zaino 2019). Communities of this state will also correlate to LandFires’ “Eastern Boreal – Sub-Boreal Bog” concept (CES103.581). The various community phases included in this state will be related to different NatureServe community types and will differentiate from other dwarf shrub bog types by changes in localized physiographic setting, with some phases more ombrotrophic than its counterparts.
Submodel
Description
These are tall shrub thickets (3 to 10 feet [1 to 3 meters]) dominated primarily by dense growth of alder (Alnus spp.) or other non-dwarf shrub species (minimum of 50 percent canopy cover]). The understory will often be well developed and consist primarily of sphagnum mosses and dwarf and heath shrubs but may decrease in cover as canopy density increases. Trees will be sparse to absent and typically have less than 25 percent cover. This state will often form complex mosaics with other states and ecological sites but can be distinguished by the dominance of tall shrubs on deep, acidic peatlands. More study is required to determine if this state can be split into its own deep peat woodland site.
Within the Northeast US, this state correlates to Maine’s “Alder Thicket” concept (Gawler and Cutko 2010), New Hampshire’s “Speckled alder wooded fen” and “Highbush blueberry – sweet gale – meadowsweet shrub thicket” concepts (Sperduto and Nichols 2012), New York’s “Shrub Swamp” concept (Edinger et al. 2014) and Vermont’s “Alder Peatland” concept (Thompson, Sorenson, and Zaino 2019). The community phase included in this state is most often at the landward edge of acidic peat mats (i.e. the lagg), where it received slightly more enriched water than those of the adjacent oligotrophic or ombrotrophic associates, or in areas of decreased hydrology.
Submodel
Mechanism
This can be the result of organic matter accumulation over time, which can occur on the decadal scale. Colonization of native mosses, graminoids, and dwarf-shrubs will attribute to the buildup of the peatland soil surface and can create ombrotrophic conditions suitable for the dominance of dwarf shrub bogs.
Mechanism
This can be a result of decreases in the long-term hydroperiods of a site in which the seasonal high-water table is lowered and tall woody shrubs can proliferate. A lowered water table and seasonal fluctuations will allow for the peat to begin to decompose to muck, resulting in more mucky peat where woody shrubs roots can survive. Such a transition may be the result of anthropogenic drainage or can be natural (such as from beaver dam removal).
Mechanism
This can be a result of physical alterations to the soil surface, such as physical trampling or excavation, that can compress the low-density peat lower than the surrounding water table, reflecting an area of open water. This can also be the result of anthropogenic or natural damming of a surrounding system, in which water inflow to the site in increased.
Mechanism
This can be a result of the site enrichment via long term changes through surface or subsurface water quality. This may or may not occur and may occur on a decadal scale. The ombrotrophic dwarf shrub bog will need to become minerotropic, which may occur through an increase in long-term hydrology of surface or subsurface water flow.
Mechanism
This can be a result of decreases in the long-term hydroperiods of a site in which the seasonal high-water table is lowered and tall woody shrubs can proliferate. A lowered water table and seasonal fluctuations will allow for the peat to begin to decompose to muck, resulting in more mucky peat where woody shrubs roots can survive. Such a transition may be the result of anthropogenic drainage or can be natural (such as from beaver dam removal).
Mechanism
This can be a result of physical alterations to the soil surface, such as physical trampling or excavation, that can compress the low-density peat lower than the surrounding water table, reflecting an area of open water. This can also be the result of anthropogenic or natural damming of a surrounding system, in which water inflow to the site in increased.
Mechanism
This can be the result of organic matter accumulation over time, which can occur on the decadal scale. Colonization of native mosses, graminoids, and shrubs will attribute to the buildup of the peatland soil surface and can reflect the native community types over time. As Sphagnum mosses establish themselves and become dominant, through the release of organic acids it will acidify the surrounding environment and create conditions less favorable to other plats and promote its own growth. Timing of natural succession of these peatlands will vary across many environmental factors including pH, localized and climatic hydrologic inputs, nutrient status, and remaining vegetative cover.
Model keys
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