Intensive land expansion of commercial oil palm agricultural lands results in reducing the size of peat swamp forests, particularly in Southeast Asia. The effect of this land conversion on macrofungal biodiversity is, however, understudied. We quantified macrofungal biodiversity by identifying mushroom sporocarps throughout four different habitats; logged peat swamp forest, large-scale oil palm...

This article reviews the existing conceptual and simulation models for peatlands and develops a model framework for simulating peatland dynamics in boreal regions. Clymo’s peat bog growth model has been used as the conceptual foundation in published simulation models, but in these models the structural and functional layers of litter, acrotelm and catotelm are not dynamically integrated. Organi...

Peat bogs represent unique ecosystems that are under particular threat from fragmentation due to peat harvesting, with only 38% of the original peatland in Europe remaining intact and unaffected by peat cutting, drainage and silviculture. In this study, we have used microsatellite markers to determine levels and patterns of genetic diversity in both cut and uncut natural populations of the peat...

Deep karst depressions with a large volume of water due to a poor water drainage system (caused by a clay layer, etc.) and with steeply sloping sidewalls paludificate in a special way. Peat formation begins with dead vegetative material (leaves, etc.) floating on the water's surface in the center of the karst lake. The peat grows laterally from the center of the depression to its edges and the ...

Peat replacement is an increasing demand in containerized and transplant production, due to the environmental constraints associated to peat use. However, despite the wide information concerning the use of alternative materials as substrates, it is very complex to establish the best materials and mixtures. This work evaluates the use of mixture design and surface response methodology in a peat ...

Sodium in the coals of West China has received persistent attention due to its high contents and severe pollutions’ problems during coal utilization. A total seven drill samples Jurassic from Tatuo coalfield, Qinghai Province, were collected analysed using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, powder diffraction, inductively coup...

Little is known about the processes of infiltration and water movement in the upper layers of blanket peat. A tension infiltrometer was used to measure hydraulic conductivity in a blanket peat in the North Pennines, England. Measurements were taken from the surface down to 20 cm in depth for peat under four different vegetation covers. It was found that macropore flow is a significant pathway f...

Peat normally has high organic matter content and is generally associated with high compressibility and high magnitude and rates of creep. It may also be associated with poor strength characteristics and a risk of large deformation. The main specifications in the peat nature are the presence of acidic or less commonly alkaline media, combined with a high level of ground water. One of the most c...

Zoltai, S.C. 1995. Regional variations in peatland ecosystems of west-central Canada through time. Gunneria 70: 35-42. Peatland ecosystems respond to major changes in their environment induced by prolonged changes in climate. In the western boreal region of Canada, permafrost occurs only in Sphagnum-dominated peatlands. In the north, the palsas and peat plateaus are associated with well-defined...

A review of Staphylinidae known from peat bogs of Belarus is presented with data on their distribution at various sites. The staphylinid fauna, as reported here, includes 66 species, 33 genera, and 10 subfamilies. The results showed a low species richness of rove beetles and a high occurrence of a small number of species. The regional zoogeography and composition of rove beetles in the Belarusi...