PALEOECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND CARBON ACCUMULATION IN GENESIS OF INUNDATED MIRE OF MID-RUSSIAN UPLAND

Abstract

The aim is to study of influence of the ecological conditions on the carbon accumulation at the different stages of genesis of the inundated mire.
 Materials and methods. The macrofossil analysis and the degree of peat decomposition were studied by the microscopic method, the moisture content and the dry bulk density were studied by the gravimetric method. The ash content was determined by burning, the content of organic matter was calculated by the difference between the mass of dry peat and the ash content. The carbon content (%) in peat samples was calculated based on the dry bulk density, the organic matter content and the mass fraction of carbon for each volume of peat. The rate of vertical growth of peat and intensity of peat accumulation in periods of Holocene were calculated based on the results of radioactive dating.
 The parameters of surrounding landscapes during the mire genesis were characterized by the results of the palynology analysis and the estimation of fire activity. The intensity of fires in paleolandscapes was studied by the content of coal particles in each (1 cm3) sample of wet peat.
 Results. The genesis of the Podkosmovo mire is presented by 5 stages which were took place under the stable conditions of water-mineral nutrition. The carbon accumulation in the genesis proceeded at the rate of 45.7 g/m2/year on average. At the same time, the surrounding landscapes differed in the degree of afforestation and the intensity of anthropogenic press.
 Conclusion. The moderate hydration and nutrition with mineralized waters ensure the stability of the mire development and the intensity of carbon accumulation, despite the change of surrounding landscapes under the influence of climate or human. However, the active transformation of the surrounding landscapes can have a negative impact on the functioning of the mire and reduce the intensity of carbon accumulation.