Bryophytes and vascular plants on peat extraction sites - which factors influence their growth?

Abstract

Peat extraction leads to the formation of areas with altered habitat conditions in comparison to natural peatlands. Restoration of the peat-formation process in these areas is very difficult and requires the creation of suitable conditions for the growth of peatland species. The aim of the study was to analyse the habitat requirements of bryophytes and vascular plants growing on sites of peat extraction (30 and 40 years after extraction was terminated) and to determine whether the water level influences the growth conditions of plants directly or indirectly through changes in the peat physical, hydraulic and chemical properties. Analysing all factors together revealed that the average water level had a decisive influence on bryophytes, but a statistically significant increase in the percentage of variation explained was obtained by taking into account other parameters as well (proportion of macropores, carbon content, and pH). In the case of vascular plants the analysis showed that the water table coefficient included the effects of all of the other factors analysed, and taking them into account did not increase the percentage of variation explained. The two groups of plants use different resources of the environment.