Rewetting increases vegetation cover and net growing season carbon uptake under fen conditions after peat-extraction in Manitoba, Canada.

ABSTRACT: The moss layer transfer technique has been developed to restore the carbon sequestration function and typical vegetation of Sphagnum-dominated peatlands after peat extraction in North America. However, the technique does not lead to successful bryophyte establishment when applied to peatlands with a richer residual fen peat. Therefore, we evaluated an alternative method of active rewetting and passive vegetation establishment using vegetation surveys and carbon dioxide and methane (CH₄) flux measurements at a post-extracted fen in southern Manitoba, Canada. After one growing season post-rewetting, wetland vegetation established and the site was a net carbon sink over the growing season. However, high abundance of Carex lasiocarpa 10 years post-treatment led to higher CH₄

SUBMITTER: Turmel-Courchesne L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10667249 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature