Vegetation structure and photosynthesis respond rapidly to restoration in young coastal fens.

ABSTRACT: Young coastal fens are rare ecosystems in the first stages of peatland succession. Their drainage compromises their successional development toward future carbon (C) reservoirs. We present the first study on the success of hydrological restoration of young fens. We carried out vegetation surveys at six young fens that represent undrained, drained, and restored management categories in the Finnish land uplift coast before and after restoration. We measured plant level carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) from 17 most common plant species present at the sites. Within 5 years of restoration, the vegetation composition of restored sites had started to move toward the undrained baseline. The cover of sedges increased the most in response to restorati

SUBMITTER: Laine AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5513228 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature