The Biology of Peatlands

Abstract

Peatlands form important landscape elements in many parts of the world and play significant roles for biodiversity and global carbon balance. This new edition has been revised and updated, documenting the latest advances in areas such as microbial processes and relations between biological processes and hydrology. As well as referencing the latest research, this book exposes a rich older literature where an immense repository of natural history has accumulated. It starts with an overview of the main peatland types before examining the entire range of biota present, together with their specific adaptations to peatland habitats. Detailed coverage is devoted to the genus Sphagnum, the most important functional plant group in northern peatlands, although tropical and southern hemisphere peatlands are also covered. Throughout the book the interactions between organisms and environmental conditions (especially wetness, availability of oxygen, and pH) are emphasised, with chapters on the physical and chemical characteristics of peat, the role of peat as an archive of past vegetation and climate, and peatland succession and development. Several other key factors and processes are then discussed, including hydrology and nutrient cycling. The fascinating peatland landforms in different parts of the world are described, together with theories on how they have developed. Human interactions with peatlands are considered in terms of management, conservation, and restoration. A final chapter focuses on the role of peatlands as sources or sinks for the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane, and the influences of climate change on peatlands.

Keywords

Biodiversity; Biota; Carbon balance; Carbon dioxide; Greenhouse gases; Hydrology; Methane; Microbial processes; Peatlands; Sphagnum

Published in

Publisher: Oxford University Press

SLU Authors

• Jeglum, John

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199602995.001.0001
• ISBN: 978-0-19-960299-5

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132058