Mire vegetation gradient established as a result of interaction with a water reservoir

Abstract

In 1958, 85% of the peat-bog complex Kyselovský les, in the Czech Republic, was flooded with water from the Lipno reservoir. A new vegetation pattern has spontaneously developed in the newly established shoreline and replaced the original peat-bog vegetation dominated by bog pine ( Pinus rotundata Link) forest. This vegetation pattern consists of zonal strips with relatively sharp borders. This zonation is a mosaic of sedge fens, reed canary grass ( Phalaris arundinacea L.) beds, tussock cottongrass ( Eriophorum vaginatum L.) stands, and a community dominated by ericaceous shrubs. The study focused on the vegetation development of this zonal vegetation. Measurements of the water table level, groundwater pH, and conductivity, together with terrain microtopography, were done to estimate the ways in which the water reservoir influences the mire vegetation. The most important factor is lake water fluctuation, which explained most of the vegetation gradient variability. Lake water fluctuations were represented by lake water levels, which directly flooded a certain part of the gradient from 1990 to 2006 for a known number of days.