Data from: Rewetting of drained boreal spruce swamp forests results in rapid recovery of Sphagnum production

Peatland rewetting aims to restore biomass accumulation from peat-forming plants for climate change mitigation, biotope conservation and water purification purposes. Boreal spruce swamp forests in Europe have suffered heavily from drainage for forestry and are now a focus of restoration efforts. We measured Sphagnum height and biomass increment by allowing Sphagnum to grow through mesh nets located in nine undrained, nine drained and 18 rewetted boreal spruce swamp forests. At the moss patch level, rewetting led to a recovery of Sphagnum growth: height and biomass increment at the rewetted sites (5.9 ± 0.7 cm yr−1 and 147 ± 15 g m−2 yr−1, mean ± s.e.) were similar to increment at the undrained sites (4.9 ± 0.5 cm yr−1 and 128 ± 12 g m−2 yr−1), while remnant patches of Sphagnum at the drained sites showed smaller increment (2.8 ± 0.8 cm yr−1 and 76 ± 19 g m−2 yr−1). Sphagnum in the ditches at the drained sites showed similar increment as the moss at the undrained and rewetted sites, while ditches at the rewetted sites had the greatest increment (8.7 ± 0.7 cm yr−1 and 183 ± 16 g m−2 yr−1). A higher water table increased Sphagnum growth, and Sphagnum riparium grew more rapidly than the other species. At the ecosystem level, where information on moss cover was utilized, rewetting had increased Sphagnum production to values close to the undrained sites. At the drained sites, biomass production was 8 ± 17 g (mean ± s.e.) m−2yr−1, at the rewetted sites 42 ± 15 g m−2yr−1 and at the undrained sites 66 ± 12 g m−2yr−1. Sphagnum cover was the most important variable that determined Sphagnum production in the ecosystem. Synthesis and applications. Drained spruce swamp forests appear to be a suitable target for restoration as they respond readily to rather inexpensive rewetting. The result points out that even in boreal conditions restoration results can be achieved in a time-scale of years rather than decades. At the ecosystem level, rewetting had resulted in a biomass gain of 34 g m−2 yr−1 when compared to drained sites.

泥炭地复湿旨在恢复泥炭形成植物的生物量累积，以实现气候变化减缓、生境保护与水体净化目标。欧洲的北方云杉沼泽林因林业排水遭受严重破坏，目前已成为生态修复工作的重点对象。本研究通过布设尼龙网让泥炭藓（Sphagnum）在其中生长，对9片未排水、9片已排水以及18片已复湿的欧洲北方云杉沼泽林内的泥炭藓高度与生物量增量进行了测定。在苔藓斑块尺度上，复湿可促进泥炭藓生长恢复：复湿样地的高度增量与生物量增量分别为5.9±0.7 cm·yr⁻¹与147±15 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹（平均值±标准误），与未排水样地的增量（4.9±0.5 cm·yr⁻¹与128±12 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹）相近；而已排水样地中残留的泥炭藓斑块增量则较低（2.8±0.8 cm·yr⁻¹与76±19 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹）。已排水样地沟渠内的泥炭藓增量与未排水、复湿样地的苔藓增量相近，而复湿样地沟渠内的泥炭藓增量最高（8.7±0.7 cm·yr⁻¹与183±16 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹）。更高的地下水位可促进泥炭藓生长，河畔泥炭藓（Sphagnum riparium）的生长速度快于其他泥炭藓物种。在生态系统尺度上，结合苔藓盖度数据进行分析后发现，复湿已使泥炭藓生产量提升至接近未排水样地的水平。已排水样地的生物量生产量为8±17 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹（平均值±标准误），复湿样地为42±15 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹，未排水样地则为66±12 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹。泥炭藓盖度是决定生态系统内泥炭藓生产量的最关键变量。综合与实践应用：已排水的云杉沼泽林似乎是适宜的修复目标，因其可通过成本相对低廉的复湿措施快速产生响应。本研究结果表明，即便在北方气候条件下，生态修复的成效可在数年而非数十年的时间尺度内达成。在生态系统尺度上，与已排水样地相比，复湿已实现了34 g·m⁻²·yr⁻¹的生物量增益。