1. Soils, Peat, and Archival Records

Question 1

Properties of Wetland Soils

Answer 1

• those areas / zones of biogeochemical activity where plants, animals, & microorganisms interact with the water cycle
• contains both mineral and organic matter
• Water-filled and air-filled pore spaces

Question 2

Field indicators of hydric soils

Answer 2

• organic soils : more than 50% of upper 50cm or so is organic
• Histic epipedon : surface 40cm is saturated for at least 30days/year
• sulfic material : rotten egg smell
• Reducing soil regime
• Gleyed conditions : low-chroma / mottled soils.
• iron and manganese oxide concentrations : black and brown

Question 3

What is Peat?

Answer 3

• partially decomposed remains of plants and animals that forms and accumulated in situ under water logged oxygen-poor conditions
• As a material from peat lands : >65% organic matter and <20-35% inorganic matter
• As a soil from intact peat lands: 88-97% water, 2-10% dry matter, and 1-7% gas

Question 4

Processes of peat / peatland formation

Answer 4

• Gradual build up of organic matter ➡️ plants
• more plant matter is produced than what is decomposed ➡️ Peat
• Peat build up ➡️ Peat accumulation
• peat accumulation ➡️ peat landform development
• peat landform (peatland) ➡️ bog, fen, swamp
• Process is called Paludification

Question 5

What is Paludification?

Answer 5

• Peatland formation on less wet mineral land

Question 6

Peatland Archives

Answer 6

• Accumulated peat and sediment
• Contains remained of plants and animals that resided on lands on and around peat lands
  Peat lands preserve remains in peat for 100s to 1000s of years
• Contain a record of themselves in the peat archive ; paleo-ecology
• peat paleoecoloy = forensic science