Spring fen vegetation and water chemistry in the Western Carpathian flysch zone

Knaap

et al. 2010

J Quaternary Science

We present the first testate amoeba-based palaeohydrological reconstruction from the Swiss Alps, and the first depth to the water table (DWT) calibration dataset for this region. Compared to existing models, our new calibration dataset performs well (RMSEP ¼ 4.88), despite the length of the water table gradient covered (53 cm). The present-day topography and vegetation of the study mire Mauntschas suggest that it is partly ombrotrophic (large Sphagnum fuscum hummocks, one of which was the coring site) but mostly under the minerotrophic influence of springs in the mire and runoff from the surrounding area. Ombrotrophic Sphagnum fuscum hummocks developed at the sampling site only during the last 50 years, when testate amoebae indicate a shift towards dry and/or acid conditions. Prior to AD 1950 the water table was much higher, suggesting that the influence of the mineral-rich water prevented the development of ombrotrophic hummocks. The reconstructed DWT correlated with Pinus cembra pollen accumulation rates, suggesting that testate amoebae living on the mire and P. cembra growing outside of it partly respond to the same factor(s). Finally, temperature trends from the nearby meteorological station paralleled trends in reconstructed DWT. However, contrary to other studies made on raised bogs of northwestern Europe, the highest correlation was observed for winter temperature, despite the fact that testate amoebae would more logically respond to moisture conditions during the growing season. The observed correlation with winter temperature might reflect a control of winter severity on surface moisture during at least the first part of the growing season, through snow melt and soil frost phenomena influencing run-off. More ecohydrological work on subalpine mires is needed to understand the relationships between climate, testate amoebae and peatland development.

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A near‐annual palaeohydrological study based on testate amoebae from a sub‐alpine mire: surface wetness and the role of climate during the instrumental period

Knaap

et al. 2010

J Quaternary Science

“…Travertine precipitation not restored Hájek et al (2002) tried to establish a distinct border between groundwater composition and occurrence of calcareous spring mires of Central-European Carpathians mountains. They found that the minimum calcium concentration needed for occasional CaCO 3 precipitation is about 2,250 μmol·l −1 and for calcite forming deposits within calcareous spring mires it is about 6,250 μmol·l −1 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nowadays, calcareous fens are critically endangered in most of Europe and the USA due to drainage in surrounding areas. groundwater abstraction in aquifers, eutrophication or changes in land use, such as planting pine plantations in infiltration areas (Bedford and Godwin 2003;Hájek et al 2002;Grootjans et al 2006;Middleton et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both forestation and deforestation and also agricultural activities such as ploughing and fertilization in the catchment are, therefore, closely related to CaCO 3 precipitation in calcareous fens. At many Central-European localities, the onset of CaCO 3 deposition has been shown to coincide with settlement and deforestation (Hájek et al 2002;Hájkova et al 2011). In eastern Germany (Succow and Joosten 2001) and in Latvia (Pakalne and Čakare 2001), calcareous fens with active CaCO 3 deposition still exist in the lowlands, indicating that climatological change was not solely responsible for the decline of calcite depositing mires in Poland.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prospects of damaged calcareous spring systems in temperate Europe: Can we restore travertine-marl deposition?

et al. 2015

Calcareous mires are peat forming systems fed by calcareous groundwater that regularly deposit travertine (CaCO 3 ) on the soil surface or in small pools that are present in such mires. At present almost all calcareous mires in Poland are degraded, most often by land use, which has led to disturbances in local hydrological systems. An experiment was set up in a degraded spring mire in western Poland to test if travertine deposition could be restored. Trees were removed to increase surface water temperatures, and a system of open water pools was constructed to measure CaCO 3 deposition in the surface water. We also studied three references systems with active CaCO 3 deposition in Poland and in Latvia. The pools in the restoration site in Poland showed very little CaCO 3 deposition (less than 0.2 μg·cm −2 ·d −1 ), while the Polish reference site had significantly higher, but still modest, rates of CaCO 3 deposition (ca 0.8 μg·cm −2 ·d −1 ). At the reference sites in Latvia, we measured considerable CaCO 3 deposition (up to 8 μg·cm −2 ·d −1 ). Five years after the restoration measures in the Polish restoration site had been carried out, the vegetation showed little resemblance to the vegetation in spring systems with active calcite deposition in Poland and Latvia. Water analyses showed that the water in our restoration project was not supersaturated by calcite and had very low CO 2 concentrations compared to the reference areas. The CO 2 concentrations in the pool seemed a good predictor for CaCO 3 deposition, better than Ca 2+ concentrations. Changes in ground water flows in the source area could have been responsible for the loss of supersaturated groundwater at our restoration site. Our study showed that efforts to restore former calcareous mires can be frustrated when groundwater flow paths have been altered.

“…in the Netherlands (Wassen & Barendregt 1992, Kooijman 2012 and Czech Republic and Slovakia (Hájek et al 2002). One explanation can pertain to the fact that rich fens in areas with high N deposition need higher Ca 2+ concentrations to reach similar pH values.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Long Term Ecosystem Stability of a Fen Mire by Analyzing Subsurface Geology, Eco-Hydrology and Nutrient Stoichiometry – Case Study of the Rospuda Valley (NE Poland)

et al. 2014

We explored the background of differences in long-term stability between two parts in an undisturbed mire system (Rospuda fen, NE Poland). We re-constructed the Holocene history of the mire and compared it with current vegetation, water level dynamics, water chemistry and nutrient availability in two basins: A, where the mire terrestrialised a deep gyttja-filled lake, and B, where peatland developed directly on fluvial sands. The current vegetation of sedgemoss fens was described in 10 relevés from each basin, groundwater was sampled from piezometers and analysed for major ions, while its relative water level was recorded during three years. N and P content was measured in above ground vascular plant samples collected within the relevés. Fens in basin A were stable in the past, whereas fens in basin B switched between open and wooded or reed-dominated phases. In basin B, where trees are more abundant, we found higher water fluctuations, occurrence of river floods and a higher N:P ratio than in basin A. Our interpretation follows that the subsurface geology of fen basin may govern mire stability by determining its hydrological-buffering capacity, which may affect N:P ratios. Our results suggest that Plimited fens are more vulnerable for changes in water level.