Restoration of peat-forming vegetation by rewetting species-poor fen grasslands

Timmermann, Tiemo; Margóczi, Katalin; Takács, Gábor; Vegelin, K.

doi:10.1658/1402-2001(2006)9[241:ropvbr]2.0.co;2

Cited by 17 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Thus, species richness and the indicator for conservation value were higher on near‐natural than on rewetted and drained fens. These results indicate that, although 14 years of higher water levels should in principle be sufficient for plant species turnover (Timmermann et al ; Zerbe et al ), rewetting only is not sufficient to restore natural plant communities. Additional restoration measures may include the removal of nutrient‐rich, degraded peat layers in combination with the introduction of fen‐typical species, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…The indicator species for drained fens were common eurytopic and mesophilous species of open habitats (Ellenberg et al ; GAC ). For rewetted fens, the vascular plant indicator species reflected eutrophic conditions ( Urtica dioica , Glyceria maxima ) and fluctuating water levels ( G. maxima , Phalaris arundinacea ; Ellenberg et al ; Timmermann et al ). The majority of the carabid indicator species for rewetted fens, however, was hygrophilous, including the vulnerable tyrphophilous beetle Elaphrus uliginosus (Lindroth , ; Müller‐Motzfeld ; Müller‐Motzfeld & Schmidt ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of the substantial loss of wetlands throughout the world, many initiatives for rewetting former fens have been launched in recent decades (Zedler ; Klimkowska et al ). In north‐eastern Germany the fens along the river Peene have recently been the focus of restoration measures (Timmermann et al ; Zerbe et al ). The Peene valley comprises a wetland of international importance, which still harbors (1) remnants of largely undisturbed near‐natural fens, (2) heavily drained and intensively managed degraded fens (silage grassland), and (3) formerly drained (silage grassland) stands which were rewetted 14 years ago (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north‐eastern Germany

Görn

Fischer

2015

Restoration Ecology

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The aim of the study was to assess the effects of fen rewetting on carabid beetle and vascular plant assemblages within riverine fens along the river Peene in north‐eastern Germany. Drained (silage grassland), rewetted (restored formerly drained silage grassland), and near‐natural (fairly pristine) stands were compared. Eighty‐four beetle species (7,267 individuals) and 135 plant species were recorded. The richness of vascular plant species and the number of endangered species were highest on near‐natural fens. Fourteen years of rewetting did not increase plant species numbers compared with drained fens. For carabid beetles, however, species richness and the number of stenotopic species were highest on rewetted fens. Rewetting caused the replacement of generalist carabids by wetland specialists, but did not provide suitable habitat for specialist fen carabids or for plant species of oligo‐ or mesotrophic fen communities. Therefore, raising the water table on fens with nutrient‐rich, degraded peat was not sufficient for restoring species assemblages of intact fens, although water level was the most important environmental factor separating species assemblages. Our study illustrated that insects and plants may respond differentially to restoration, stressing the need to consider different taxa when assessing the efficiency of fen restoration. Furthermore, species assemblages of intact fens could not be restored within 14 years, highlighting the importance of conserving pristine habitat.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north‐eastern Germany

Görn

Fischer

2015

Restoration Ecology

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“…After centuries of traditional land use, larger parts of the Peene valley were heavily drained from the 1960s onwards to allow for intensive grassland management, whereas other parts fell fallow (Hennicke, ). Since 1992 the fens along the river Peene have been the focus of restoration measures and large parts were rewetted for conservation purposes (Hennicke, ; Timmermann et al ., ; Zerbe et al ., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Riverine fen restoration provides secondary habitat for endangered and stenotopic rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Hoffmann

Kleeberg²,

Görn

et al. 2017

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Peatlands have undergone dramatic changes through anthropogenic activities in the last centuries, causing a substantial loss of fen‐specific biodiversity. Therefore, restoration of already degraded stands is an important conservation issue. The effectiveness of fen restoration was evaluated through rewetting in the valley of the river Peene, NE Germany, by comparing three fen types: drained fens, rewetted fens, and near‐natural fens. Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) were used as indicators, comprising an ecologically important yet understudied insect group. 5,398 individuals from 121 staphylinid species were recorded by 30 pitfall traps per fen type, which were biweekly emptied between April and October 2012, and related to environmental parameters. Rove beetle assemblages differed markedly between fen types. Community structure was affected by peat degradation, the extent of organic matter, water level, and vegetation height. Fen rewetting favoured the establishment of a distinct, species‐rich beetle community within 15 years only, caused by an increase in hygrophilous wetland species partially replacing generalists. Nevertheless, this time span was not sufficient to restore communities characteristic for near‐natural fens, which harboured several particularly sensitive species that were not found on rewetted fens. Rewetting provided suitable habitats for a substantial number of stenotopic and threatened staphylinid beetles. Thus, the protection of pristine habitats along with restoration measures are both important strategies in peatland conservation.

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“…Plants that indicate a healthy fen are obligate wetland species, demonstrating that the water table is near the soil surface. The presence of peat‐forming species, whose underground biomass contributes most of the organic matter to the peat body, is also critical for the persistence of fen wetland ecosystems (Timmermann, Margóczi, Takács, & Vegelin, ; Schrautzer, Sival, Breuer, Runhaar, & Fichtner, ). A degraded fen, on the other hand, is dominated by upland, non‐peat‐forming plant species that indicate a lowered water table, eutrophication and soil drying (Weixelman & Cooper, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock exclusion alters plant species composition in fen meadows

Merriam

Markwith

Coppoletta

2017

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions:Our study evaluated how species composition and plant traits that indicate functioning condition in fens responded to grazing cessation over time in an arid ecosystem of the western US. The specific questions addressed were: (i) how does livestock exclusion influence species composition in fens; (ii) is grazing cessation associated with shifts in species functional traits that indicate fen condition; and (iii) what is the pattern of response to livestock exclusion over time?Location: Plumas National Forest, California, US. Methods:We studied paired fenced and unfenced study sites in two fens to examine the effects of livestock exclusion. Parallel transects were established at each site, and plant species and ground cover were repeatedly surveyed, once prior to and multiple times following treatment, using 0.01 m 2 frequency frames. We used NMDS to analyse species composition, RLQ and fourth-corner analysis to evaluate species functional traits and environmental variables, and linear mixed effects models to examine differences in responses between fenced and unfenced study sites over time.Results: After fencing, we observed unexpected shifts in species composition and plant functional traits. Grazed sites were associated with peat-forming obligate wetland, moss and sedge species, while fenced sites were characterized by non-peatforming facultative upland, and upland forb, grass and early seral species. Species composition also varied between sites and sample years. Conclusions:We found that livestock exclusion strongly affects plant species composition in fens, including promoting species with functional traits that indicate a loss of functioning condition, such as ruderal and upland species. Possible explanations for these observed shifts include: (1) biomass accumulation in the absence of herbivory,(2) competitive exclusion in fenced sites, (3) succession, (4) the abiotic conditions of our study sites, particularly hydrology and nutrient status, and (5) interactions among these factors. We conclude that degradation of fen wetlands caused by livestock grazing in the arid western US may not be reversed by excluding livestock alone. K E Y W O R D S fen meadows, grazing cessation, litter accumulation, livestock exclusion, peat formation, species functional traits 4 | Applied Vegetation Science MERRIAM Et Al. SUPPORTING INFORMATION Additional Supporting Information may be found online in the supporting information tab for this article. Appendix S1 Species list, functional trait classification, indicator species information, study site map and complementary analyses How to cite this article: Merriam KE, Markwith SH, Coppoletta M. Livestock exclusion alters plant species composition in fen meadows.

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Restoration of peat-forming vegetation by rewetting species-poor fen grasslands

Cited by 17 publications

References 1 publication

Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north‐eastern Germany

Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north‐eastern Germany

Riverine fen restoration provides secondary habitat for endangered and stenotopic rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Livestock exclusion alters plant species composition in fen meadows

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