24.8 Peat Bogs - Ecosystem management

What is a peat bog?

a region of wet, spongy ground that contains decomposing vegetation

What is undisturbed peatland?

a 'carbon sink' - meaning that it is a store of carbon dioxide

Once dried what can peat be used as?

fuel

As well as releasing thermal energy, what does burning peat also release into the atmosphere?

carbon dioxide

How long does it take for peat bogs to form?

many thousands of years

Why is the preservation of existing peat bogs an important Component in preventing further climate change?

they are the world's largest terrestrial and most concentrated carbon sink

Why is peat also important for farmers and gardeners?

they mix it with soil to improve soil structure and to increase acidity

Properties of peat when soil is dry?

peat has very favourable moisture-retaining properties when soil is dry

What does peat prevent when soil is wet?

prevents excess water from killing roots

Although peat can store nutrients, what is it not?

it is not fertile in itself

What is a major threat to this ecosystem?

commercial peat extraction to supply gardeners and nursery growers

Ecosystem: when does peat form?

when plant material is inhibited from fully decaying by acidic and anaerobic condition

Ecosystem: what areas does peat formation normally occur in?

wet or boggy areas

Ecosystem: due to peat forming in wet or boggy areas, what is it mainly composed of?

wetland vegetation including mosses, sedges, and shrubs

Ecosystem: 3 examples of plants that grow on peatlands?

sphagnum mosses (Sphagnum spp.), bog cotton or cottonsedge (Eriophorum angustifolium), and heathers (typically Calluna vulgaris)

Ecosystem: what have these plants that grow on peatlands adapted to?

to grow and thrive in wet conditions with few nutrients

Ecosystem: the wide range of insects bogs support (4)?

butterflies. moths. dragonflies, and damselflies

Ecosystem: what makes some peatlands ideal for birds to nest and bring up their chicks (2)?

The lack of predators and human disturbance

Ecosystem: What provides food for many species (5)?

The abundance of insects, spiders, and frogs, plus nutritious vegetation and berries

Ecosystem: what do the large areas of open ground provide?

hunting grounds for birds of prey

One example of a peatland ecosystem?

Lowland raised bogs

Loss of ecosystem: key feature of Lowland raised bog habitats?

a rare and threatened habitat

Loss of ecosystem: In the UK, what has the area of relatively undisturbed lowland raised bog been estimated to have diminished by what in the last 100 years?

by over 90% - from around 950km² to only 60²

Loss of ecosystem: why is essential that the remaining areas are conserved (4)?

to maintain biodiversity and to contribute to flood management, erosion control downstream, and carbon storage

Loss of ecosystem: What activities have all contributed to the drying out of the bogs (3)?

afforestation, peat extraction, and agricultural intensification - including land drainage

Loss of ecosystem: afforestation?

the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no forest

What is the key to conserving lowland bogs?

to maintain or restore appropriate water levels

Conserving lowland bogs: what about the peat and vegetation of the bog surface should be ensured?

that it is as undisturbed and as wet as possible

Conserving lowland bogs: what are most bogs surrounded by to prevent flooding of nearby land?

ditches to allow water to run off

Conserving lowland bogs: In restoring a bog, what may be required for a period of time?

ditch blocking, to raise the water table to the bog surface

Conserving lowland bogs: what is removed from the area?

seedling trees

Conserving lowland bogs: why do trees have a high water requirement?

due to transpiration

Conserving lowland bogs: Therefore, why should any tree seedling that has the potential to remove water from an area of peatland, or to reduce its ability to support bog vegetation be removed?

to maintain water levels in the area

Conserving lowland bogs: what can be used to maintain the biodiversity of peatland?

controlled grazing

Conserving lowland bogs: what does grazing ensure?

a diverse wetland surface in terms of structure and species composition - which in turn provides a wide range of habitats for many rare insect species

What threatens the existence of much of the remaining peatlands in the UK?

Continuing intensive land use

Although around 100/0 01 the UK is classified as peat bog of one form or another, what percentage of these areas are in a poor condition?

around 80%

Examples of organisations that are working to preserve these important ecosystems (3)?

The Wildlife Trusts, Natural England. and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

What is hoped that an appropriate balance can be met between (through the conservation work of these and other organisations)?

between our need to exploit the land, and the maintenance of a sustainable, biodiverse ecosystem.