North Ross and MD Rifath Ahamed

Introduction

Peatlands are a vital habitat for many red-listed species (Christiani et al., 2025). Global climate change and land use changes are causing widespread drying of boreal peatlands (Loisel et al., 2021), particularly changes in atmospheric moisture and temperature and direct drainage for agriculture or forestry. We will examine the effects of these changes on peatland biodiversity and community composition. We also will exmaine the effectiveness of restoration on restoring biodiversity in degraded peatlands.

Notes

Effectiveness of restoration: Christiani et al., 2025

Christiani, P. et al. (2025) “Negative effects of climate warming on red-listed boreal peatland plant species can be mitigated through restoration,” Biological Conservation, 306, p. 111126. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111126.

This paper focuses on Finland specifically, and mostly on the effects of land use changes/human impacts on red-listed species. They preformed statistical modeling to look at the effects of restoration of degraded peatlands on habitat suitability for red-listed plant species.

Divergent hydrological shifts: Zhang et al. 2022

Zhang, H. et al. (2022) “Recent climate change has driven divergent hydrological shifts in high-latitude peatlands,” Nature Communications, 13(1), p. 4959. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32711-4.

This paper is a historical reconstruction using a transfer function with testate amoebae proxy on high-latitude peatlands. They found 54% were drying and 32% are wetting, but many have shown lots of fluctuations, especially in permafrost peatlands, which are known to be very complex. This study did not focus on biodiversity impacts, mostly on the carbon cycle, although it is related.

Resilience of degraded peatlands: Loisel and Gallego-Sala 2022

Loisel, J. and Gallego-Sala, A. (2022) “Ecological resilience of restored peatlands to climate change,” Communications Earth & Environment, 3(1), p. 208. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00547-x.

This literature review/meta analysis examines the success of restoration efforts on degraded peatlands carbon and biodiversity. They also examine methods for monitoring hydrology, like inSAR satellite imagery (remote sensing). The main technique for peatland restoration, re-wetting, is effective in the short term at slowing carbon losses, but its effects on biodiversity are not so simple.

In particular, they examine how rewetted fens do not tend to trend back to their former biodiversity, but instead form novel ecosystems.

Notable in this paper is their discussion of plant functional diversity within peatlands and the special niche formed by peatland plants and their role as ecosystem engineers (like Sphagnum which acidifies the local area).

Overall, biodiversity may take decades to return to restored peatlands, if it returns at all.

Fen-bog transition: Kolari et al. 2022

Kolari, T.H.M. et al. (2022) “Ongoing Fen–Bog Transition in a Boreal Aapa Mire Inferred from Repeated Field Sampling, Aerial Images, and Landsat Data,” Ecosystems, 25(5), pp. 1166–1188. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00708-7.

This paper used remote sensing, field measurements, and even an old map to document the fen-bog transition in an aapa mire in Northern Finland. They found that many areas documented as fens 60 years ago are now considered bogs. An ordination plot in a DCA interpreted wate table depth as a significant impact on the types of plants.

This study did not directly address biodiversity, but showed how community composition is changing as part of the fen-bog transition.

Drivers of change in peatlands: Loisel et al 2021

Loisel, J. et al. (2021) “Expert assessment of future vulnerability of the global peatland carbon sink,” Nature Climate Change, 11(1), pp. 70–77. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-00944-0.

This review paper is not focused on biodiversity, more on carbon, but it describes the agents of change affecting peatland hydrology.

Warming and drying effects on peatland plants: Weltzin et al. 2003

Weltzin, J.F. et al. (2003) “Potential effects of warming and drying on peatland plant community composition,” Global Change Biology, 9(2), pp. 141–151. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2486.2003.00571.x.

This study used experimental methods to apply warming and drying to a boreal peatland in Minnesota, USA. Change in plant cover in fens was was primarily driven by water table depth, wetter conditions increased cover of sedges and drier conditions increased shrubs - but also there is an effect of vegetation on water table.

Overall - species respond individually to changes in WTD, and no clear overall pattern exists for each species. Overall biodiversity is not addressed.