Lecture 6- Peatland Ecology Flashcards
Describe hydrology of peatlands
-Highly connected via surface and ground water flow
-Can form very large complexes
-Contamination and disturbances can affect a very large area
-Can influence hydrology of each other
Can you draw a boundary for a peatland?
Hard to draw a boundary because they are all connected
Define local recharge, local intermediate recharge and regional recharge
- From streams across surface, between peatlands
- Through ground water
- Larger scale, recharging the water across a gradient
What does the construction of roads do to peatlands?
It interrupts water flow between peatlands which can cause one side to dry up and one side to flood (increasing water table, trees will die, aka impact on vegetation)
What is the McClelland Fen?
-Rare patterned fen
-Located North of Fort McMurray
What do they plan to do to the McClelland Fen and the impacts?
-Proposed mine development in half of the fen
-Take up half the fen, build a retaining wall, other half wont be affected
-In reality it will restrict water flow, either dry it out or pooling = species loss and habitat loss
-The fen is also culturally important
True or False? Peatlands are not limiting to plant growth
False (Often water logged = low oxygen availability, poor in nutrients and high in toxins)
Plants in bogs must be adapted to __________
Humidity, acidity and nutrient poor soils
_______ thrive under acidic condition, like _____
-Acidophiles
-Cotton grass
What are four peatland plant adaptations?
- Aerenchyma
- Floating growth forms
- Water dispersal of seeds
- Nutrient conservation
What is Aerenchyma?
-Air filled cavities that move atmospheric oxygen through plant tissues
-Adapted to low oxygen, move atmospheric oxygen instead of relying on soil oxygen levels
Describe the floating growth form adaptation
-To adapt to fluctuating water levels
-Helps support growth of sphagnum (plant growth following peat growth)
Describe the water dispersal of seed adaptation
Seeds filled with air to help it float
Describe the nutrient conservation adaptation
-Slow growth
-Evergreen leaves (retaining the leaves, can put energy into reproduction)
-Carnivory
Why have plants adapted to plant carnivory?
Because peatlands have low nutrient availability (very low nitrogen b/c of low rates of decomposition)
