(400 words)
Bogs dominated by Sphagnum mosses serve as significant carbon sinks and support high biodiversity and ecological services. These unique ecosystems play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering large amounts of CO₂. In addition, bogs provide habitats for various plant and animal species, contributing to overall biodiversity. However, these bogs are undergoing global decline and deterioration due to land use changes, agricultural expansion, and commercial exploitation for purposes such as peat extraction. Therefore, bog restoration has become an urgent priority to preserve these valuable ecosystems.
Methods: To assess the potential for bog restoration, we conducted an experiment in which Sphagnum mosses were transplanted into four vegetation types: bare ground (BG), Rhynchospora alba sedgeland (RA), Moliniopsis japonica grassland (MJ), and moss mat (SP). These vegetation types developed in a peatland that was mined in 1972, located in Sarobetsu Mire, northern Japan. Transplantations were undertaken during two periods: the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2018. During snow-free periods from 2017 to 2020, we measured environmental parameters, including water table, peat moisture, temperature, light intensity and pH. In addition, we measured the cover, vertical growth, capitulum density and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) of the transplanted mosses. The differences were compared from SP (control) to the other three habitats.
Results: Using a combination of four variables - capitulum density, vertical growth, NDVI, and moss cover - we estimated the biomass of mosses non-destructively. The transplanted mosses exhibited substantial growth in MJ, as indicated by shoot elongation, cover and estimated biomass, which were greater in MJ than in SP. In contrast, the mosses withered and died completely in BG during the survey periods. Moss growth was highly variable in RA. Aboveground factors, such as light intensity and temperature, differed significantly among the vegetation types, whereas belowground factors, such as water physiochemistry, showed minimal variation.
Conclusion: A suitable vegetation cover was essential for the successful re-establishment of Sphagnum mosses. The findings of this study highlight the importance of specific environmental conditions and vegetation types in promoting the growth of transplanted mosses. In conclusion, ecosystem restoration following peat-mining was accelerated through moss transplantation, provided that careful monitoring of the aboveground vegetation structure was conducted. This approach serves as a valuable strategy for restoring degraded bogs and preserving their ecological functions.