Environmental factors responsible for shaping an open peatland – forest complex on the hypermaritime north coast of British Columbia

Abstract

The relationships between the distribution of plant communities and environmental factors were studied in an open peatland – forest complex of the hypermaritime north coast of British Columbia. The entire vegetation gradient, from open through forested peatlands to upland forest, was primarily explained by slope and minimum level of groundwater table. Environmental conditions in the upland Tsuga–Rhytidiadelphus forest were considerably different from those of the other communities; differences were small among the Sphagnum open peatland, the Pinus–Sphagnum woodland, the Chamaecyparis–Fauria forest, and the Thuja–Gaultheria forest. Highest level of groundwater table, conductivity minimum, pH, and dissolved oxygen merely helped distinguish the upland Tsuga–Rhytidiadelphus forest from all other communities. The wet Thuja–Gaultheria forest could be more vulnerable than the upland Tsuga–Rhytidiadelphus forest to local hydrological changes caused by harvesting. Consecutive intraannual measurements of environmental variables are important in clarifying the relationships between distribution of plant communities and environmental variables, especially for communities with peat accumulation.

Mountain Fen Distribution, Types and Restoration Priorities, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA

“…Mountain bogs occur only in mountain ranges with a hypermaritime climate (e.g., coastal areas of British Columbia, Canada, and southeastern Alaska) that receive ample rain and have high humidity throughout the year (Asada et al 2003). Mountain regions with dry summers (e.g., Rockies and Sierra Nevada) have fens (Cooper and Andrus 1994;Cooper and Wolf 2006;Lemly 2007).…”

Biological diversity of peatlands in Canada

“…Total number of common plant species in natural Canadian peatlands. Data were obtained from Damman (1977), Wells (1981), Edlund (1982), Sims et al (1982), Karlin and Bliss (1984), Banner et al (1987), Chee (1988), , Vitt and Chee (1990), Gignac et al (1991), Jeglum and He (1995), Wells (1996), Beilman (2001), Asada et al (2003b), and Belland and Vitt (N. D.). Taxonomy follows that of Stotler and Crandall-Stotler (1977), Scoggan (1978aScoggan ( , 1978bScoggan ( , 1979, Anderson (1990), Anderson et al (1990), and Esslinger and Egan (1995).…”

Sphagnum invasion after clear-cutting and excavator mounding in a hypermaritime forest of British Columbia

“…Open peatland is underlain by moderately thick Sphagnum and Carex peats (mostly Mesisols) over sandy or silty mineral and organo-mineral material, to a maximum depth of 250 cm. More details about the Diana Lake study site are in Asada et al (2003b). Nomenclature for soil terms follows Soil Classification Working Group (1998) except for humus forms (Green et al 1993).…”

“…Vegetation classification, ordination, and relationships with environmental variables at the Diana Lake study site are presented in Asada et al (2003b). Decomposition rate of Sphagnum fuscum litter were also studied at the Diana Lake study site following the same procedures at the Port Simpson study site.…”