Peat Swamp Research Articles

Regulators of aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation in two pristine temperate peatland types.

Despite covering less than 5% of Earth's terrestrial area, peatlands are crucial for global carbon storage and are hot spots of methane cycling. This study examined the dynamics of aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation in two undisturbed peatlands: a fen and a spruce swamp forest. Using microcosm incubations, we investigated the effect of ammonium addition, at a level similar to current N pollution processes, on aerobic methane oxidation. Our findings revealed higher methane consumption rates in fen compared to swamp peat, but no effect of ammonium amendment on methane consumption was found. Members of Methylocystis and Methylocella were the predominant methanotrophs in both peatlands. Furthermore, we explored the role of ferric iron and sulfate as electron acceptors for the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). AOM occurred without the addition of an external electron acceptor in the fen, but not in the swamp peat. AOM was stimulated by sulfate and ferric iron addition in the swamp peat and inhibited by ferric iron in the fen. Our findings suggest that aerobic methane oxidizers are not N-limited in these peatlands and that there is an intrinsic potential for AOM in these environments, partially facilitated by ferric iron and sulfate acting as electron acceptors.

Effects of Harvest Time and Acacia crassicarpa Age on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Apis mellifera L. Honey in Tropical Indonesian Forests

The comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical profile of monofloral honey derived from Acacia crassicarpa, specifically in the Indonesian tropical forest ecosystem, has not been fully explored. The physicochemical characteristics of honey significantly influence its quality and consumer acceptance. Harvest time and the age of Acacia plants, which are suspected to affect honey’s physicochemical properties, are this study’s focal points. Our objective is to analyze the impact of harvest time and Acacia age on the physicochemical characteristics of honey. Using a complete randomized block design, treatments were administered at 14, 21, and 30 days of harvest within three Acacia age groups: 3, 8, and 18 months. The honey composition was assessed following the Indonesian National Standard 8664:2018 procedure. The statistical analysis determined the optimal harvest period for honey by assessing its physicochemical properties and comparing them to the Indonesian National Standard 8664:2018 procedure (SNI 8664:2018 standards). One-way analysis of variance evaluated the effects of harvest time and plant age on composition, followed by a least significant difference tests to identify significant differences between harvest times. Results indicate a significant influence of harvest time and Acacia age on all honey composition variables, including diastase enzyme activity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, moisture level, sugar content, and acidity (P<0.01). Our findings suggest optimal honey harvest at 30 days, aligning with the 8th and 18th months of A. crassicarpa. Most variables met SNI 8664:2018 standards, except acidity levels. Further investigation is needed to discern the causes of acidity in Apis mellifera honey from Indonesian peat swamp forests.

Mitochondrial evidence on the phylogenetic position of the Southeast Asian catfish genus Encheloclarias Myers, 1937 (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Clariidae): Evolutionary and conservation implications

The phylogenetic position of the Southeast Asian catfish genus Encheloclarias Myers, 1937 within the family Clariidae is inferred herein using three mitochondrial nucleotide markers: cytochrome b, cytochrome oxidase subunit I, and 16S rRNA genes. We found that Encheloclarias is neither exclusively related to the African taxa having extended neural spines posterior to the dorsal fin (Encheloclarias shares with some of these taxa the presence of an adipose fin, as opposed to absent in all other clariid taxa) nor to the Asian species of the genus Clarias Scopoli, 1777. Encheloclarias is hypothesized to be the sister group of all other clariids, except Horaglanis Menon, 1951. The inferred position of Encheloclarias confirms that the adipose fin in this genus has an evolutionary origin independent to that of the adipose fin found in some African clariids. Encheloclarias is not only ecologically remarkable, being adapted to acidic peat swamps in Southeast Asia, but it is also an ancient lineage sheltering in these habitats. However, the precise timing of the colonization of peat swamps by Encheloclarias remains to be investigated. The phylogenetic position of Encheloclarias further underscores the importance of studying and protecting the remaining peat swamp habitats in Southeast Asia and their distinctive aquatic fauna.

Elemental Characteristics of Particulate Matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) from Peat Swamp Area in Kuala Pahang

Particulate matter (PM) is normally being divided into two common groups known as: the coarse fraction particle with a range of sizing from 2.5 to 10 UM (PM10–PM2.5), and the fine fraction particles with a dimension smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5). It is also can be defined as a sum of solid and liquid particles which suspended in the air. The contribution of particulate matter towards the air pollution from peat swamp area in Kuala Pahang can be generated from various sources such as unpaved road, vehicle, open burning and uncover soil. In fact, monsoon season also play an important role where PM can be conveyed by wind from one location to another. Air pollution has become a matter of concern over Malaysia. The objective of this survey is to determine the particular matters in the air by using Aeroqual AQM 65 which is located in Kuala Pahang, Pekan. Air Pollution Index (API) is the reading to determine the quality of air whether it suitable and safe for human being. The data is obtained from the Aeroqual AQM 65 machine starting for April 2019 till March 2020. The survey will last for 12 months to generate a reliable result. From the API gain, the government can work out with some ideal on improving the surrounding air quality in the meantime to generate different strategy to overcome the problems. According to Aeroqual AQM 65, the reading of concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 are almost the same yet the concentration of PM10 is still slightly higher than PM2.5. According to the analysis, there is a rapid increase of concentration of PM form June to September and a sharp drop from September to March due to the happening of monsoon season. When the direction of monsoon season changes, the graph tends drop because the wind tends to convey the PM away. Therefore, the reading of API of PM2.5 is higher than PM10 and the highest reading for both particular matter API is on September yet the lowest reading of API for both particular matters is on November.

Quantifying Post‐Colonial Peat Carbon Loss From a Drained Forested Peatland, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, USA

AbstractPeatland carbon storage is increasingly threatened by the combination of land‐use change and climate variability, though carbon losses from land‐use changes that span centuries are difficult to quantify, particularly in systems where little undisturbed area remains. Here we use a combination of vegetation change, fire history, and calculations of excess ash mass to quantify carbon loss in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (GDS NWR), USA, a highly impacted oligotrophic temperate peat swamp. Our results indicate that ditch construction that began in the Colonial Era in the late 1700s and continued into the mid‐20th century across the swamp resulted in shifts from cypress‐tupelo swamps to a combination of maple‐gum and pine pocosin forests, consistent with drying surface conditions. Two large smoldering fires (2008, 2011) that were exacerbated by surface drainage, shifted vegetation from swamp to marsh, consumed peat over 25 km2, and caused losses of 1.05–1.34 Tg C due to peat burning. Across the Refuge as a whole, up to 48.2 Tg C has been lost to peat oxidation since ditch construction. Both stocks and rates of carbon loss remain higher than post‐disturbance accumulation across most of GDS NWR, suggesting that existing efforts to block drainages to elevate water tables may not be enough to offset carbon losses. Rewetting heavily impacted surface peats may reduce peat oxidation and carbon loss, and shift vegetation toward hydrologic conditions preferred by pre‐disturbance cypress‐tupelo swamps.

Coevolutionary dynamics in tropical peat ecosystems: A case study of Sumatra peatlands biosphere reserve

Tropical peat swamp is an essential ecosystem experiencing increased degradation over the past few decades. Therefore, this study used the social-ecological system (SES) perspective to explain the complex relationship between humans and nature in the Sumatran Peatlands Biosphere Reserve. The peat swamp forest has experienced a significant decline, followed by a significant increase in oil palm and forest plantations in areas designated for peat protection. Human systems have evolved to become complex and hierarchical, constituting individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions. Studies on SES conducted in the tropical peatlands of Asia have yet to address the co-evolutionary processes occurring in this region, which could illustrate the dynamic relationship between humans and nature. This study highlights the co-evolutionary processes occurring in the tropical peatland biosphere reserve and provides insights into their sustainability trajectory. Moreover, the coevolution process shows that biosphere reserve is shifting toward an unsustainable path. This is indicated by ongoing degradation in three zones and a lack of a comprehensive framework for landscape-scale water management. Implementing landscape-scale water management is essential to sustain the capacity of peatlands social-ecological systems facing disturbances, and it is important to maintain biodiversity. In addition, exploring alternative development pathways can help alter these trajectories toward sustainability.

Complete genome sequence of Serratia marcescens D1_6, isolated from peat soil.

We present a complete genome of Serratia marcescens D1_6 isolated from peat swamp forest. The complete genome for the isolate D1_6 was constructed using data from Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina. The genome of D1_6 has a total length of 4,996,151 bp, comprising a chromosome and a plasmid.

Status of ramin (Gonystylus spp.) in eastern Kalimantan, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Peat swamp forests in Indonesia have been heavily logged in recent years, with Gonystylus bancanus, locally known as the ramin tree, being one of the main species of timber harvested. The potential for other Gonystylus species as timber trees is not known, as we have a poorer understanding of their distribution and regeneration patterns. In this study, the team explored the Gonystylus species diversity and distribution at five locations in East and North Kalimantan (Indonesia) in 2009. In total, we found six Gonystylus species – G. affinis, G. brunnescens, G. consanguineus, G. forbesii, G. keithii and G velutinus – in primary forest with flat to hilly topography up to 500 m a.s.l. on typical ultisol soils. Gonystylus brunnescens was the most abundant species and had the best natural regeneration, whilst the populations of the other five species were much smaller, with fewer than five individuals at each location, and their regeneration was poor. We present information on the autecology of these Gonystylus species and recommend further studies on their physiology and ecology, with the support of governments and concessionaires, in order to conserve ramin populations.

Use of an Adaptive-Vegetation Model to Restore Degraded Tropical Peat Swamp Forest to Support Climate Resilience

Climate change poses significant challenges to ecosystems globally, demanding innovative methods for environmental conservation and restoration. Restoration initiatives require significant amounts of appropriate vegetation that is both adaptive and tolerant to the specific environmental factors. This study introduces an adaptive-vegetation model designed to support ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change. Traditional restoration methods often neglect dynamic environmental conditions and ecosystem interactions, but the model employs real-time data and predictive analytics to adapt strategies to evolving climate variables. The model takes a comprehensive approach, incorporating climate projections, soil health metrics, species adaptability, and hydrological patterns to inform restoration practices. By using a mix of adaptable native species, the model promotes biodiversity. In conclusion, according to the findings of our review, paludiculture and agroforestry could be implemented as models for improving climate resilience, particularly in tropical degraded peat swamp forests. These two models could improve the environment, the economy, and social functions. Finally, improving all three of these factors improves ecological stability. This adaptive-vegetation model represents a significant shift from static, uniform restoration approaches to dynamic, data-driven strategies tailored to specific environments. The future research directions underscore the need for ongoing innovation in conservation practices to safeguard ecosystems amid unprecedented environmental changes. Future efforts will focus on enhancing the model with advanced machine learning techniques and expanding its application to additional ecological contexts.

Effects of fire on tree species composition and carbon stocks of a peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Peat swamp forests are important in the global carbon (C) budget because of the huge amount of C stored in these ecosystems, particularly in below-ground components. Indonesia has some of the greatest extent of peat swamp forests globally, yet many of them are being disturbed by fires that are becoming increasingly frequent. In Kalampangan, Central Kalimantan, the tree species (≥4.8 cm diameter) composition, aboveground biomass (AGB) and litter standing crop of peat swamp forests were sampled, and the overall ecosystem C stock estimated, within two 1-ha sampling plots, one of which was undisturbed (natural) and the other previously burned. The AGB and litter standing crop found in the natural forest totaled 341 and 6.77 Mg ha−1, respectively. The AGB declined more than six-fold to 53.2 Mg ha−1, and the litter standing crop declined by about half to 3.30 Mg ha−1 in the disturbed forest; the total number of tree species declined from 114 to 80 per hectare. The disturbed peat swamp lost just over 200 Mg C ha−1 to the atmosphere due to the combustion of tree biomass and the upper layer of the peat, but C stocks still remained very high overall (c. 1100 Mg ha−1) due to the thick layer of peat (>2 m) making peat swamp forest conservation imperative due to their huge carbon stocks.

Novel discoveries of Xylariomycetidae (Ascomycota) taxa from peat swamp forests and other terrestrial habitats in Thailand.

In a comprehensive survey of fungi conducted in the northern (Chiang Rai Province) and southern (Narathiwat Province) regions of Thailand, several xylariales-like specimens were discovered. Through the integration of molecular phylogeny and morphological analyses, one previously undocumented taxon, Oxydothisnarathiwatensis sp. nov., was identified, along with Xylariabawanglingensis and Hypoxylonhypomiltum as new host and geographical records from Afzeliaxylocarpa, and Dalbergiacana, respectively. In addition, Annulohypoxylonthailandicum was identified as a new host record from Swieteniamacrophylla in Thailand. The morphological characters, including ascomata, asci, and ascospores, were compared with known Oxydothis, Xylaria, Hypoxylon, and Annulohypoxylon species. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, and SSU (for Oxydothidaceae), ITS, rpb2, tub2, and act (for Xylariaceae), and ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tub2 (for Hypoxylaceae) gene regions were carried out to refine the taxonomic classifications of these specimens further. This research contributes to understanding fungal diversity in these ecologically significant regions, highlighting insights into the relationships among xylariales-like species.

New Record of A Freshwater Prawn <i>Macrobrachium sundaicum</i> in Selat Panjang Island, Riau Province, Indonesia

A freshwater prawn M. sundaicum, is an obligate species to acidic peat swamp. Up to the present, M. Sundaicum has only been reported in the West Kalimantan, the Riau Archipelago, and Jambi Provinces in Indonesia. The aim of this research is to determine the distribution and habitat preferences of peat swamp prawn in Selat Panjang Island, Riau Province, Indonesia. The samples were collected in seven peat swamp rivers by hand net. The study yielded one hundred specimens. The acidic peat swamp is a perfect habitat for M. sundaicum. This study provided the basic information about peat swamp prawn in Selat Panjang Island, especially their distribution and habitat preferences.

Mining impacts peatland hydrology reducing discharge and water storage volumes

Peatlands cover about 3% of the Earth’s land surface, but are the largest terrestrial carbon store and are important for freshwater storage. In Australia, nationally protected peatlands (called upland swamps) exist in the catchment headwaters for Sydney’s drinking water supply. In this region, longwall mining of underground coal seams can result in subsurface fracturing, land subsidence, and, potentially, peatland drainage. This study presents the water balance modelling results for an upland peat swamp before and after it was undermined in 2020. Following a detailed field campaign, a conceptual lumped hydrology model was developed to estimate the local water balance, with a Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.85 for the modelled storage of the intact swamp. After undermining, the water balance of the swamp changed, with higher deep seepage rates and reduced surface water discharge rates. For the first time, these findings detail the hydrologic effects of longwall mining on peatland environments. Based on these findings, broader catchment management initiatives are recommended to prevent or limit further water extraction from upland swamps, including incidental water losses associated with subsidence.

Diversity and ecological drivers of fish in Singkil Swamp Wildlife Reserve, Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract. Rohim N, Sulistiono, Yulianda F, Muhtadi A. 2024. Diversity and ecological drivers of fish in Singkil Swamp Wildlife Reserve, Aceh, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2849-2856. Singkil Swamp Wildlife Reserve (SSWR) is a conservation area in Aceh Singkil District, Aceh, Indonesia, that has an important role in maintaining the sustainability of fisheries resources on the Singkil coast. This study analyzes fish biodiversity and ecological factors influencing fish distribution in SSWR waters. The data were collected at five stations (Station I and II in the watershed area while Station III, IV, and V in peat swamp area) every month from April to October 2021 (7 months), consisting of fish biodiversity and aquatic ecological characteristics. The data obtained were analyzed using an index of diversity, evenness, dominance, frequency of presence, and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Fish biodiversity in the SSWR utilization area consists of 26 species, including 14 families and 19 genera. Station I (in the Alas-Singkil River) has a higher diversity value and is dominated by the white fish group compared to Stations II, III, IV, and V (in the Lae-Treup River), which the black fish group dominates. Based on ecological characteristics, the distribution of fish species in SSWR is divided into four groups. The first and second groups of fish were positively correlated with high pH and DO, while the third and fourth groups tended to have negative correlation values.

Remote Sensing for Restoration Change Monitoring in Tropical Peat Swamp Forests in Malaysia

Effective planning and management strategies for restoring and conserving tropical peat swamp ecosystems require accurate and timely estimates of aboveground biomass (AGB), especially when monitoring the impacts of restoration interventions. The aim of this research is to assess changes in AGB and evaluate the effectiveness of restoration efforts in the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF), one of the largest remaining peat swamp forests in Peninsular Malaysia, using advanced remote sensing techniques. A Random Forest machine learning method was employed to upscale AGB estimates, derived from a ‘LiDAR AGB model’, to larger landscape-scale areas with Sentinel-2 spectral and textural variables. The time period under investigation (2015–2018) marked a concentrated phase of restoration and regeneration efforts in NSPSF. The results demonstrate an overall increase in tropical peat swamp AGB during these years, where the total amount of estimated AGB stored in NSPSF increased from 19.3 Tg in 2015 to an estimated 19.8 Tg in 2018. The research found that a tailored variable selection approach improved predictions of AGB, with optimised input variables (n = 62) and parameter adjustments producing a good plausible result (R2 = 0.80; RMSE = 55.2 Mg/ha). This paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of long-term studies (>5 years) for analyzing the success of tropical peat swamp restoration methods, with a potential for integrating remote sensing technology.

Estimation of above-ground biomass using machine learning approaches with InSAR and LiDAR data in tropical peat swamp forest of Brunei Darussalam

Estimation of above-ground biomass using machine learning approaches with InSAR and LiDAR data in tropical peat swamp forest of Brunei Darussalam

Preliminary Assessment of Selected Physico-chemical Properties of Peat Water in Relation to Land Use Conversion in Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland, Philippines

Tropical peatlands are unique wetland ecosystems that provide various ecosystem services such as carbon and water storage. However, these ecosystems have been significantly altered by anthropogenic activities. In this study, the impact of land use conversion on the selected physico-chemical properties of surface water in the Leyte Sab-a Basin Peatland was investigated. Surface peat water was collected from peat swamp forest, peatland converted to grassland and peatland under cultivation. The surface peat water temperature was measured on-site and the collected water samples were analyzed for turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3-N), phosphate (PO4), and total dissolved solids (TDS). It was found that the physico-chemical properties of water such as temperature, pH, and TDS were significantly higher in disturbed land use (cultivation) areas. The direct relationship between the temperature of surface peat water to both phosphate and TDS suggests that increasing temperature brought by peatland conversion may directly lead to increasing phosphate and total dissolved solids concentration in water. Strong relationships were also found between TDS and phosphates as well as between pH and dissolved oxygen. Finally, the increasing trend of values of the examined peat water physico-chemical properties with land use disturbance (cultivation) indicates peatland degradation.

Paleoenvironment and vegetational history of a Middle Pennsylvanian intramontane peat swamp: an example from the Lower Radnice Coal, Kladno coalfield (Czech Republic)

AbstractThe depositional environment, hydrology and vegetational history of the Lower Radnice Coal (Duckmantian) in the Kladno coalfield was studied using sedimentary geology, coal petrology and paleobotanical/palynological methods. The peat accumulating wetland of the coal formed in a fluvial paleovalley approximately 15 km long and 2–5 km wide, bordered by basement paleohighs and landlocked in the interior of the central European Variscides. The peat swamp evolved on top of mud-dominated floodplain successions pedogenically modified to a vertic gleyed Protosol. Probably climatically controlled rising ground water table resulted in paludification that from downstream part gradually spread upstream. Most clastic load was deposited in the upper part of the valley, whereas only mud suspension was dispersed downstream throughout the vegetated swamp. The best conditions for peat accumulation were situated in the eastern part of the paleovalley, where up to 1.5 m thick coal with thin bands of impure coal and carbonaceous mudstone formed in an occasionally inundated rheotrophic system with peat accretion controlled by regional ground water table. The peat swamp was vegetated mainly by lepidodendrid lycopsids with Lepidodendron and Paralycopodites being dominant genera. Shrubby to ground cover vegetation was represented by medulosallean pteridosperms, small shrubby lycopsids, sphenopsids, and herbaceous ferns. Tree ferns were locally abundant, especially in mineral-rich substrates. The rheotrophic character of the peat swamp may indicate higher seasonality of the Variscan interior, compared to coastal areas in the North Variscan foreland with contemporaneous ombrotrophic peats. Modern equivalents of the Lower Radnice Coal swamp are inland planar tropical peat swamps in tributary paleovalleys of the Tasek Bera in peninsular Malaysia and central Congo basins. Graphical abstract Lower Radnice Coal peat swamp.

Economics of Peatland Ecosystem Services: A Study of Use and Non-Use Values and People Interplays in Sumatra, Indonesia

Peatlands play an important role in the global environment and the well-being of humans by providing valuable ecosystem services. Yet, anthropogenic activities pose significant hazards for peatland management, including low levels of community participation due to lack of awareness and financial incentives. Understanding the social–cultural and economic value of these ecosystems will raise awareness to protect these important ecosystems. Here, we estimated a total economic value (TEV) of peatland ecosystem services and examined relationships between the TEV and landscape characteristics in Riau province, Indonesia. A questionnaire was used to investigate household socioeconomics, perception of peatland importance, peatland product collection, and willingness to pay for habitat and biodiversity protection from May to June 2023. A total of 200 household individuals (92% confidence) in five villages across distinct landscapes in the Sungai Kiyap-Sungai Kampar Kiri Peatland Hydrological Unit participated in the survey. The respondents obtained numerous advantages from the peatlands with an estimated TEV of USD 3174 per household per year (about 1.3 times their annual income). Approximately 81% showed a use value, especially food provisioning from fish and soil fertility. To a lesser extent, non-use values included a habitat for endemic and endangered species, biodiversity conservation for future generations, and community bonds with sacred forests. The landscape characteristics, illustrating habitat types, biophysical conditions, and property rights regimes, interplay with the relative benefits derived from the peatlands. Proximity to secondary peat swamp forests and riparian zones, especially within protected areas, enhanced economic value. Protected area co-management is essential to balance peatland conservation with sustainable livelihoods. Primary forests need restrictive protection. Meanwhile, buffer zone designation and agroforestry practices, especially in the peatland–farm interface, reduce land use tensions and promote local stewardship. This study can be used as a reference by planners and policymakers to recognize factors that promote effective peatland management, especially those that balance ecosystem protection and livelihood maintenance.

Mapping the Demand for Ecosystem Services in Human-Dominated Topical Forest of Sabah, Malaysia

Mapping the demand for ecosystem services (ES) is a profoundly debated research topic that needs to be investigated further to overcome spatial discrepancies between supply and demand in the literature. This study proposes a holistic approach to valuing ES, which is demanded by local people living adjacent to Sabah’s protected area in the southwestern part of Sabah, Malaysia. To assess the local people's demand for ecosystem services, we applied the 'ES Matrix Assessment' method. Timber, global climate regulation, recreation, and ecotourism are selected to illustrate the changes in ES demand patterns reported in the Klias Peninsula region. To identify the ES required by local people based on land-cover type, we used a weighted arithmetic mean approach. Then, using multiple regressions, we identified socio-demographic characteristics that influence demand for ES obtained from the Klias Peninsula's tropical forest. The 6-point Likert scale results showed that timber received medium (3) to highly relevant demand (4) among local people in the forest ecosystem, while climate regulation demand was the most highly relevant demand (5) in the forest ecosystem, and recreation and ecotourism are highly demanded in the forest ecosystem and water-based area. Overall, ethnicity, source(s) of income, distance from the protected area, length of residence, and education level have influenced the population's perception of ecosystem service demand in peat swamp forest, mangrove, and forest land, and these factors are statistically significant at the 1% to 5% levels. Our approach possesses the advantage of being intuitively straightforward, making it easy to convey to stakeholders and decision-makers across various ecosystem service (ES) applications. Therefore, our approach, while relatively simple, remains realistic and easy to apply, effectively raising awareness about the utility of the ecosystem services concept for stakeholders and policymakers.