The S ˇ ijec peatland is a relatively undisturbed ecosystem and is therefore
valuable for long-term studies to understand natural processes and provide a
baseline for comparisons when disturbances or perturbations occur (Spellberg
1991). That knowledge would be of considerable importance in decision-making
process in management applications in a changing environment.
11.2 Climate-Change Related Problems
Since climate is the most important determinant of the distribution and character of
peatlands, a strong influence of any future changes of climate on these ecosystems
is expected (Charman et al. 2008; Gignac and Vitt 1994; Heijmans et al. 2008).
A warmer and drier climate with higher rates of evapotranspiration will accelerate
the decomposition of organic matter and the amount of nutrients in the ecosystem
will increase. Consequently, higher levels of CO 2 and other greenhouse gases will
be released into the atmosphere. The changes in hydrology, followed by climate
changes could affect distribution and ecology of plant and animal species in
peatland ecosystem (Parish et al. 2008). In addition, the tree cover of bogs will
increase as the result of lower water tables (Gignac and Vitt 1994). On the other
hand, peatlands affect the climate via a series of feedback effects which include the
sequestration of carbon dioxide, as well as exchanges of heat and moisture balance
(Charman et al. 2008; Thompson et al. 2004).
11.3 Monitoring Objectives and Methods
for Peat Bog Ecosystems
The most important monitoring goals for peat bog ecosystems are: (1) to understand
the ecosystem processes and its dynamic; (2) to determine the influence of changing
climatic conditions (changes in temperature, precipitation regimes etc.) and human
impacts on peat-bog vegetation (species composition and abundances); (3) to define
plant species which are the best indicators for climate change; (4) to compare
response of different plant communities to climate changes; and (5) to perform
long-term surveys of the dynamics of peatland ecosystems.
An approach by stratified random sampling was chosen for monitoring peatland
vegetation in TNP. Based on the knowledge of the extension and distribution of
different habitat types in the park, sampling areas were divided in advance into
homogeneous units, i.e. vegetation types (Fig. 11.3), while for each unit sampling
plots were chosen randomly. In each homogeneous sampling unit maximum ten
samples (1 m
2 ) were taken with minimum distances !5 m between randomly
selected sampling plots (Fig. 11.3). Parameters which are measured in each sampling plot include the floristic species composition of vascular plants and
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T. Petras
valuable for long-term studies to understand natural processes and provide a
baseline for comparisons when disturbances or perturbations occur (Spellberg
1991). That knowledge would be of considerable importance in decision-making
process in management applications in a changing environment.
11.2 Climate-Change Related Problems
Since climate is the most important determinant of the distribution and character of
peatlands, a strong influence of any future changes of climate on these ecosystems
is expected (Charman et al. 2008; Gignac and Vitt 1994; Heijmans et al. 2008).
A warmer and drier climate with higher rates of evapotranspiration will accelerate
the decomposition of organic matter and the amount of nutrients in the ecosystem
will increase. Consequently, higher levels of CO 2 and other greenhouse gases will
be released into the atmosphere. The changes in hydrology, followed by climate
changes could affect distribution and ecology of plant and animal species in
peatland ecosystem (Parish et al. 2008). In addition, the tree cover of bogs will
increase as the result of lower water tables (Gignac and Vitt 1994). On the other
hand, peatlands affect the climate via a series of feedback effects which include the
sequestration of carbon dioxide, as well as exchanges of heat and moisture balance
(Charman et al. 2008; Thompson et al. 2004).
11.3 Monitoring Objectives and Methods
for Peat Bog Ecosystems
The most important monitoring goals for peat bog ecosystems are: (1) to understand
the ecosystem processes and its dynamic; (2) to determine the influence of changing
climatic conditions (changes in temperature, precipitation regimes etc.) and human
impacts on peat-bog vegetation (species composition and abundances); (3) to define
plant species which are the best indicators for climate change; (4) to compare
response of different plant communities to climate changes; and (5) to perform
long-term surveys of the dynamics of peatland ecosystems.
An approach by stratified random sampling was chosen for monitoring peatland
vegetation in TNP. Based on the knowledge of the extension and distribution of
different habitat types in the park, sampling areas were divided in advance into
homogeneous units, i.e. vegetation types (Fig. 11.3), while for each unit sampling
plots were chosen randomly. In each homogeneous sampling unit maximum ten
samples (1 m
2 ) were taken with minimum distances !5 m between randomly
selected sampling plots (Fig. 11.3). Parameters which are measured in each sampling plot include the floristic species composition of vascular plants and
178
T. Petras