Community Succession after Cranberry Bog Abandonment in the New Jersey Pinelands

Abstract

Cranberry agriculture once represented over a third of wetlands in the New Jersey pinelands, but many bogs have been abandoned as the industry has declined. The purpose of this study was to examine succession dynamics of cranberry bogs post abandonment in the New Jersey pinelands and also provide data on the association of local species in various ages of abandoned cranberry bogs in order to inform management practices. We assessed bog succession after abandonment from an active cranberry bog to 60 years since abandonment. We hypothesized the fate of community succession would be influenced by the original agricultural practice and whether or not the bog was kept flooded. Community diversity and structure was determined from plant and invertebrate inventories and a chronosequence for bog succession was developed. In abandoned bogs that were left to dry, there was a significant difference in groundcover and functional diversity over time. The most abundant functional group transitioned from herbs and graminoids to shrubs and trees. The ecological role of invertebrates shifted from pollinators to predators as a canopy developed. This work suggests despite the history of agricultural practice, cranberry bogs could return to a community similar to what is already found in the pinelands and differing management practices would determine their successional climax community.