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Long‐Term Ecological Baselines and Critical Thresholds in Ombrotrophic Peatlands of Europe: Implications for Restoration Strategies

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dc.abstract.enMaintaining appropriate peatland hydrology, notably through the regulation of the depth to water table (DWT), is crucial for peatland conservation, restoration, and the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We assess the long-term ecological impact of hydrological changes, primarily induced by drainage, in ombrotrophic peatlands across Europe. Our analysis is based on novel palaeoecological data from seven peat cores collected from sites that have experienced varying degrees of anthropogenic disturbance. We reconstructed historical DWT fluctuations using plant macrofossil and testate amoeba analyses at high resolution. By applying Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) models, we identified species-specific and community-level response thresholds to changes in reconstructed water table. This approach revealed two distinct change points: the first, at c. 7 cm DWT, corresponds to hydrological conditions favourable for moisture-dependent Sphagnum species. The second, at c. 22 cm DWT, is associated with more drought-adapted plant taxa and signals ecosystem degradation. The interval between these change points represents a transition zone between optimal and suboptimal conditions for peatland functioning. An additional TITAN analysis, designed to identify the timing of major ecological changes, indicates that peatland degradation has intensified over the past two centuries and accelerated in recent decades. Our findings further reveal that plant and testate amoebae communities often remain distinct from those of undisturbed peatlands, even after hydrological restoration. This underscores the importance of preserving sites that still retain near-natural conditions. Based on our results (and consistent with previous studies) we recommend maintaining the water table close to the surface, i.e., a DWT of approximately 10 cm below the surface as an optimal target for both peatland conservation and restoration. Such conditions not only support ecological integrity but are also associated with reduced GHG emissions and higher peat accumulation rates, reinforcing the role of ombrotrophic peatlands as long-term carbon sinks.
dc.affiliationWydział Inżynierii Środowiska i Inżynierii Mechanicznej
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Bioklimatologii
dc.contributor.authorDraga, Mateusz
dc.contributor.authorGałka, Mariusz
dc.contributor.authorKnorr, Klaus‐Holger
dc.contributor.authorGlatzel, Stephan
dc.contributor.authorChojnicki, Bogdan
dc.contributor.authorFritz, Christian
dc.contributor.authorJassey, Vincent E. J.
dc.contributor.authorJuszczak, Radosław
dc.contributor.authorMeyer, Hanna
dc.contributor.authorRobroek, Bjorn J. M.
dc.contributor.authorThomas, Carrie L.
dc.contributor.authorLamentowicz, Mariusz
dc.date.access2025-12-15
dc.date.accessioned2025-12-15T10:26:06Z
dc.date.available2025-12-15T10:26:06Z
dc.date.copyright2025-12-11
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> Maintaining appropriate peatland hydrology, notably through the regulation of the depth to water table (DWT), is crucial for peatland conservation, restoration, and the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We assess the long‐term ecological impact of hydrological changes, primarily induced by drainage, in ombrotrophic peatlands across Europe. Our analysis is based on novel palaeoecological data from seven peat cores collected from sites that have experienced varying degrees of anthropogenic disturbance. We reconstructed historical DWT fluctuations using plant macrofossil and testate amoeba analyses at high resolution. By applying Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) models, we identified species‐specific and community‐level response thresholds to changes in reconstructed water table. This approach revealed two distinct change points: the first, at <jats:italic>c</jats:italic> . 7 cm DWT, corresponds to hydrological conditions favourable for moisture‐dependent <jats:italic>Sphagnum</jats:italic> species. The second, at <jats:italic>c</jats:italic> . 22 cm DWT, is associated with more drought‐adapted plant taxa and signals ecosystem degradation. The interval between these change points represents a transition zone between optimal and suboptimal conditions for peatland functioning. An additional TITAN analysis, designed to identify the timing of major ecological changes, indicates that peatland degradation has intensified over the past two centuries and accelerated in recent decades. Our findings further reveal that plant and testate amoebae communities often remain distinct from those of undisturbed peatlands, even after hydrological restoration. This underscores the importance of preserving sites that still retain near‐natural conditions. Based on our results (and consistent with previous studies) we recommend maintaining the water table close to the surface, i.e., a DWT of approximately 10 cm below the surface as an optimal target for both peatland conservation and restoration. Such conditions not only support ecological integrity but are also associated with reduced GHG emissions and higher peat accumulation rates, reinforcing the role of ombrotrophic peatlands as long‐term carbon sinks. </jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographyil., bibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_nocost
dc.description.financecost0,00
dc.description.if12,1
dc.description.number12
dc.description.points200
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume31
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/gcb.70629
dc.identifier.eissn1365-2486
dc.identifier.issn1354-1013
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/6394
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70629
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationenvironmental engineering, mining and energy
dc.relation.ispartofGlobal Change Biology
dc.relation.pagese70629
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudnosend
dc.share.typeOTHER
dc.subject.enchange point
dc.subject.enecosystem threshold
dc.subject.enpeatland
dc.subject.enresilience
dc.subject.enSphagnum
dc.subject.enwater table
dc.titleLong‐Term Ecological Baselines and Critical Thresholds in Ombrotrophic Peatlands of Europe: Implications for Restoration Strategies
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue12
oaire.citation.volume31