The restoration of drained, afforested blanket bogs (forest-to-bog restoration) is an increasing management practice, due to recognition of both the nature conservation and carbon sequestration services provided by peatlands. Forest-to-bog restoration involves conifer felling (and harvesting) along with blocking of forestry drains. Research from conifer felling and drain blocking on open peatlands shows significant effects on pore- and stream- water quality, when practised separately. However, there is very little knowledge of the combination of both these practices in forest-to-bog restoration. This research investigated the effects of forest-to-bog restoration on pore-, surface-, stream- and river water quality in the short-term (0-1) years post-restoration, where the effects of restoration are disturbance-related. We also investigated restoration progress across a chronosequence of restoration sites using pore- and surface-water chemistry. Our results showed significant increases in DOC, phosphate, K and NH4+ (2-99 fold) in pore- and surface- water in the first year post-restoration, which may have implications for the recovery of bog vegetation. In streams significant increases in Fe (1.5 fold) and phosphate (4.4 fold) were found, with no significant impacts on concentrations in rivers or pass rates for drinking water or WFD standards. We also found no significant effects on aquatic carbon exports. However, as more restoration is carried out within the catchments and the proportion felled increases, greater impacts on streams and rivers may be observed. From our results, we recommend felling small percentages (3-23%) of stream and river catchments and the use of drain blocking and silt traps to retain sediment. We observed progress in recovery towards bog conditions across a chronosequence of restoration sites (aged 0-17 years); incomplete recovery of WTD and elevated NH4+ in porewater appeared the main barriers to restoration. Therefore, enhancements such as brash and needle removal and plough furrow blocking may be able to accelerate restoration.

<p>Volatile organochlorine compounds emitted from natural sources can participate in environmentally relevant processes affecting life on Earth, such as stratospheric ozone destruction and warming of the troposphere. The aim of this study was to investigate if forest bogs contribute to the environmental input of naturally produced volatile organochlorine compounds. The concentrations of four different volatile organochlorine compounds were determined in ambient air, rainwater, surface water, and sub-surface water. For chloroform, up to 10-times higher concentrations were detected in the surface water compared to the sub-surface water taken at 40 cm depth. As the concentrations of chloroform in rainwater where almost in the same range as the concentrations in the sub-surface water, a formation of chloroform is suggested in the surface water. The results of this study indicate forest bogs as a possible new natural source for the input of volatile organochlorine into the environment.</p>

Volatile organochlorine compounds emitted from natural sources can participate in environmentally relevant processes affecting life on Earth, such as stratospheric ozone destruction and warming of the troposphere. The aim of this study was to investigate if forest bogs contribute to the environmental input of naturally produced volatile organochlorine compounds. The concentrations of four different volatile organochlorine compounds were determined in ambient air, rainwater, surface water, and sub-surface water. For chloroform, up to 10-times higher concentrations were detected in the surface water compared to the sub-surface water taken at 40 cm depth. As the concentrations of chloroform in rainwater where almost in the same range as the concentrations in the sub-surface water, a formation of chloroform is suggested in the surface water. The results of this study indicate forest bogs as a possible new natural source for the input of volatile organochlorine into the environment.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Oregon, 2001. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-177). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to UO users.

Microbial nitrogen (N2) fixation supplies important nitrogen inputs to boreal peatlands, extremely oligotrophic ecosystems dominated by Sphagnum mosses. In this study, we coupled major and trace nutrient analyses and rate measurements to characterize interactions between N2 fixation and CH4 cycling at the S1 peat bog in Marcell Experimental Forest and the Zim bog (Minnesota, USA). Total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (NO3-+NO2-+NH4+) and phosphate were both consistently < 2 μM in the porewater of surface peat, indicating severe nutrient limitation. While dissolved Fe was fairly abundant (18-35 mM), Mo, V and Cu were scarce (2-40 nM), suggesting that alternative metalloenzymes containing Fe in place of other metals may be favored. Rates of diazotrophy measured by both 15N2 incorporation and the acetylene (C2H2) reduction assay (ARA) were 7-fold higher under anoxic vs. oxic incubations conducted at both 4°C and 25°C. No significant difference in N2 fixation rates measured by either method was observed with or without the amendment of 1% CH4 at 25 °C; however, a significant inhibitory effect by methane was seen at 4°C in material from the S1 bog hollows. Anoxic 15N2 incorporation was 3-4x higher in treatments lacking acetylene, suggesting that the ARA likely underestimates N2 fixation by inhibiting diazotrophs sensitive to C2H2. Aerobic methanotrophy was also inhibited by 1% C2H2 when incubated under oxic conditions. No observations for the production of ethane (C2H6) were detected during the ARA, a biomarker for alternative nitrogenase activity. Major differences in ARA rates were observed to vary locally within microhabitats and between two bogs. In June 2014, peat sampled from hollows incubated under anoxic conditions showed the highest ARA rates (94.9 ± 11.0 nmol C2H4 g-1 moss dry mass hr-1), while the lowest rates were observed in ix hummock samples incubated under oxic conditions (5.1 ± 0.8 nmol C2H4 g-1 moss dry mass hr-1) in the S1 bog (T3 site). Observed rates have the potential to be a function of oxygen concentrations and or water content. ARA rates in all microcosm treatments were significantly lower at Zim bog compared to the S1 bog. The developed conversion factor between the regression of 15N2 and ARA in this study was 3.9 and agrees with the theoretical conversion factor as well as previous studies of soils and forest mosses.

A study was undertaken to characterize two dynamic fuel types not included in the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System: forested bogs and blowdown. Fuel load and structure were measured at ten forested bog sites in central Alberta along a 108 year post-fire chronosequence. Canopy bulk density increased following a sigmoidal curve between 0.00 and 0.54 kg•m-3. Crown fire potential was modeled using a general crown fire behaviour model and found to follow a similar sigmoidal pattern increasing with time-since-fire. Blowdown fuel loads were measured at six sites in northwestern Ontario and ranged from 13.4 to 18.9 kg•m-2. Elevated fine blowdown fuels were found to have faster reaction times and dry more rapidly than predicted by the Fine Fuel Moisture Code. Detailed observations were also made of fire behaviour in blowdown fuels

A study was undertaken to characterize two dynamic fuel types not included in the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System: forested bogs and blowdown. Fuel load and structure were measured at ten forested bog sites in central Alberta along a 108 year post-fire chronosequence. Canopy bulk density increased following a sigmoidal curve between 0.00 and 0.54 kg•m-3. Crown fire potential was modeled using a general crown fire behaviour model and found to follow a similar sigmoidal pattern increasing with time-since-fire. Blowdown fuel loads were measured at six sites in northwestern Ontario and ranged from 13.4 to 18.9 kg•m-2. Elevated fine blowdown fuels were found to have faster reaction times and dry more rapidly than predicted by the Fine Fuel Moisture Code. Detailed observations were also made of fire behaviour in blowdown fuels

The Owl-Flintstone range in southeastern Manitoba is among the most at risk in the province. Through a series of transects and plots established throughout the study area, this study characterized calving habitat at a fine scale, examined the use of caribou calving areas by large mammals and examined if a calving habitat model correctly identified high quality calving habitat. Parturient females utilized black spruce dominated islands and peninsulas on lakes as well as islands and peninsulas in bogs. Bear utilized both predicted low and high quality sites. Black spruce and lichen cover were significantly greater within known calving sites compared to predicted low quality habitat. Forbs, herbs and downed woody debris values were significantly lower within known calving sites compared to predicted high quality sites. The calving habitat model correctly identified both high quality and low quality calving habitat in the Owl-Flintstone range, however parameters could be refined.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 25-30).

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2009. / Directed by Roy Stine; submitted to the Dept. of Geography. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 17, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-129).