Peat Bog Research Articles

Unlocking Molecular Fingerprint of an Ombrotrophic Peat Bog: Advanced Characterization Through Hexamethyldisilazane Thermochemolysis and Principal Component Analysis

This study examines a boreal peatland (the Sagnes peatland, Fanay, Limousin, France) with a depth of 1 m. This peatland is currently in the late stages of organic deposition, as evidenced by the growth of Carex species, along with Sphagnum mosses, in the uppermost level. To gain molecular insights, we conducted an analysis of the lignin and polyphenolic counterparts using HMDS (hexamethyldisilazane) thermochemolysis, enabling the identification of lignin degradation proxies. The goal was to develop characteristic indicators for the state of lignin degradation based on the relative distribution of lignin phenols, measured by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after the HMDS thermochemolysis. For that purpose, the singular contribution of the 11 aromatic moieties yielded, along with SGC (sum of lignin moieties) and the most lignin degradation proxies, were applied. It has been shown that HMDS thermochemolysis exhibited the capacity to reveal oxidized and degraded lignin fractions, following the increasing trend yielded for most moieties and SGC proxy, in the mesotelm and catotelm layers. In addition, the C/G (Cinnamyl/Guaiacyl) and S/G (Syringyl/Guaiacyl) ratios showed their highest input in the upper half of the core. This bias in the aforementioned ratios could indicate that HMDS thermochemolysis is to be applied for geological samples, where low G-compounds exist. For the sake of validating HMDS thermochemolysis’ application, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was then applied to the molecular fingerprint. For ratios and proxies of aromatic moieties of HMDS thermochemolysis, the PCA approach exhibited a higher contribution (79%). This indicates the efficiency of these ratios in describing the molecular fingerprint of peat depth records. In addition, a higher separation between the contributions of the investigated variables (molecular proxies) along the first two PCs was noticed. In other words, the variables that showed a high contribution towards PC1 exhibited a low contribution towards PC2, and vice versa. These findings indicate the high reliance of applying the ratios and proxies of HMDS thermochemolysis.

ЕКОЛОГО-ЦЕНОТИЧНИЙ АНАЛІЗ УГРУПОВАНЬ З УЧАСТЮ HYDROCOTYLE VULGARIS L. В УКРАЇНІ

An ecological and cenotic analysis of Hydrocotyle vulgaris, a rare sub-Atlantic species, which is in Ukraine on the eastern border of distribution and is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, was carried out. The article presents data on the distribution of the species in Ukraine, obtained on the basis of personal data, literary materials and the database of the National Biodiversity Information Network (UkrBin). Six new localities of the species are presented. It was discovered that H. vulgaris occurs on the territory of four regions. It is most widespread on the territory of the Volyn and Lviv region. The locality in the Ternopil region should be considered as lost. For the first time, the locality on the territory of the Rivne Nature Reserve, which is currently the easternmost in Ukraine, is given. The phytocenotic peculiarities of the species on the territory of Ukraine and neighboring countries has been established. Types of vegetation with presence of the species were defined. According to the analysis of literary sources, the species is widespread on peat bogs, marshy meadows, in the zone of periodic flooding along the banks of mesotrophic reservoirs, on alder bogs with peaty, moderately acidic, silty sands. In general, the species was noted as part of 6 classes and 9 alliances, presented by woody, shrubby and herbaceous vegetation. Based on personal data, it was found that H. vulgaris occurs in communities of three classes, four alliances and four associations on the territory of Ukraine. The ecological and coenotic study of H. vulgaris made it possible to establish the peculiarities of the ecology of this species. It was established that the leading edaphic factors affecting the distribution of the species are humidity and soil composition. It is limited to nutrient-poor non-saline slightly acidic soils, mainly peaty or sandy. H. vulgaris belongs to the species that are affected by the changing water regime and is limited to places where temporary flooding is observed. It prefers habitats with reduced interspecific competition. Taking into account this feature, it is proposed to introduce regular mowing as a factor that prevents civilization of the territory and stimulates the vegetative renewal of the populations of the species. In tree and shrub communities, it is proposed to carry out selective felling. In order to preserve the populations of the species, it is also necessary to maintain the bare, well-moistened areas. In nearby agricultural lands it is necessary to avoid fertilizers.

Towards the reference ecosystems for quartzitic campo rupestre: Floristic composition and soil relationships

The loss and fragmentation of tropical habitats, especially extreme megadiverse environments like the campo rupestre (rupestrian grassland), impacts biodiversity and ecosystem services essential to millions of people. The campo rupestre is a grassy ecosystem of the Cerrado biome, a center of endemism in Brazil with high floristic richness and environmental heterogeneity, where plants have developed multiple adaptive strategies and form a vegetation mosaic shaped by local soil and microhabitat conditions. However, this ecosystem has been under severe land use conversion, while signs of augmenting pressure from climate change are now recorded at faster pace. Thus, understanding the particularities of its multiple habitats is fundamental to define habitat specific references to guide conservation and restoration projects that lead to increased biodiversity. In this work, for the first time, we characterize the floristic composition of the shrub and herbaceous strata and related them to the edaphic characteristics of the four main habitats that form the campo rupestre mosaic: rocky outcrop, stony grassland, sandy grassland, and peat bog. A total of 12,000 m2 of shrub layer (120 plots of 10 × 10 m) and 120 m2 (120 plots of 1 × 1 m) of herbaceous layer were sampled. We recorded 257 species belonging to 47 different families, and also observed a high species turnover among the four different habitats. Furthermore, we identified species from both ends of the edaphic gradient of the four habitats and emphasized the importance of multiregional studies to evaluate the association among species and soils before implementing any restoration project. This study provides the knowledge base to build the reference ecosystems for the mosaic of campo rupestre habitat types.

An annual land cover dataset for the Baltic Sea Region with crop types and peat bogs at 30 m from 2000 to 2022

We present detailed annual land cover maps for the Baltic Sea region, spanning more than two decades (2000–2022). The maps provide information on eighteen land cover (LC) classes, including eight general LC types, eight major crop types and grassland, and two peat bog-related classes. Our maps represent the first homogenized annual dataset for the region and address gaps in current land use and land cover products, such as a lack of detail on crop sequences and peat bog exploitation. To create the maps, we used annual multi-temporal remote sensing data combined with a data encoding structure and deep learning classification. We obtained the training data from publicly available open datasets. The maps were validated using independent field survey data from the Land Use/Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) and expert annotations from high-resolution imagery. The quantitative and qualitative results of the maps provide a reliable data source for monitoring agricultural transformations, peat bog exploitation, and restoration activities in the Baltic Sea region and its surrounding countries.

Mites from the Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Bory Tucholskie National Park—One of the Youngest National Parks in Poland

The state of research into acarofauna in Polish national parks is very uneven. One of the least examined areas in this regard is Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP), established in 1996. The aim of the current research was to explore the species diversity and community structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata), inhabiting different forest, open, and unstable microhabitats in the area of BTNP. Based on the analysis of over 300 samples collected in BTNP between 2004 and 2024, 29 taxa of Uropodina were identified, with 3839 specimens found in the analyzed material. The highest species diversity has been observed in different types of pine forests (19 species), in transformed alder and alder forests (15 species, each), and in reeds (12 species), while the lowest diversity occurred in peat bog areas (8 species) and inland dunes (5 species). The spatial distribution analyses for Uropodina in the area of BTNP have been made and distribution maps for each species have been drawn. Moreover, the Maturity Index (MI) was also calculated to compare the species diversity of the Uropodina communities in BTNP with those in other Polish national parks. The Uropodina community in BTNP ranked eighth in terms of species richness among 13 national parks explored in Poland so far. Finally, the comparative analysis of the MI for the selected Polish national parks has revealed that BTNP could be ranked fourth in terms of the faunistic value for the discussed mite group.

Effect of mineral and biological fertilizers on the formation of the microbiota of the root zone of the developed top-type peat bog under the planting of large-fruited cranberry plants in the conditions of Belarus

Effect of mineral and biological fertilizers on the formation of the microbiota of the root zone of the developed top-type peat bog under the planting of large-fruited cranberry plants in the conditions of Belarus

Central-Eastern Europe as a centre of Middle Ages extractive metallurgy

Central-eastern to southeastern Europe, from Bohemia to Greece is home to some of the richest ore deposits on earth, with archaeological evidence suggesting a long history of metal use. However, the exact timing and extent of past metal processing activities remains unclear. The Middle Ages and Early Modern period (c. 500–1800 common era (CE)) in Europe, saw the expansion of metal use at an unprecedented scale, continent-wide. Here we analysed rates of past atmospheric lead (Pb) deposition in six peat bogs from Romania, Serbia and Greece. We show that after 1000 CE, the redevelopment of central European mining industry was synchronous with Pb pollution in southeastern Europe, with the onset of metal pollution occurring in the area prior to central Europe. Therefore, southeastern Europe may have led regional mining developments, with technological advances rapidly shifting from east to west through the Middle Ages. This indicates how southeastern Europe should be included in future discussions of Middle Age metallurgy not simply as a contributor, but at times as a leader in metal production.

Ecohydrological role of groundwater outflows in the functioning of the ecotone zone in Lake Jaczno, Poland

The research determined the influence of natural groundwater outflows from the spring peat bog on the water supply and its quality in Lake Jaczno. Lake Jaczno is located in the Suwalski Landscape Park (SLP) in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, north-east Poland. The research was conducted from April 2009 to October 2010 and from September 2022 to September 2023. Water samples were collected from spring areas, shallow groundwater, and from Lake Jaczno. Fieldwork involved measuring flow, temperature, water electrolytic conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, water oxygen saturation (WS), and water reaction (pH). Chemical analyses of water samples were carried out in the laboratory. Findings indicate that groundwater, spring water, and lake water in the SLP maintain high quality, with no significant changes in chemical composition over the past decades. Additionally, the physical water parameters display low temporal variability. The EC in the tested waters oscillates around 500 μS∙cm–1. Both spring and lake waters are well oxygenated (97–100%). Biogenic element concentrations exhibit higher variability, influenced by flora development in areas with natural groundwater outflows. High oxygenation of water contributes to increased concentrations of nitrates. The analysed waters exhibited similarity in the concentration and structure of phosphorus forms. Additionally, sediment chemical parameters at Lake Jaczno suggests a buffering capacity in the transitional zones between water and land. Despite similarities in chemical composition, sediment granulometry suggests low permeability, potentially restricting exchange between groundwater and surface waters. Monitoring springs in these environments is important due to their impact on quantity and quality of water in the analysed areas.

Pollen atlas from bat guano deposits in southeastern Amazonia

The botanical literature lacks pollen resources such as atlases and identification keys for bat guano deposits. To address this gap, our dataset describes modern pollen and spore assemblages from five caves in the Carajás region, southeastern Amazonia. A comprehensive atlas featuring illustrations and detailed descriptions of pollen and spores was created using both original and published data. It aims to simplify the identification of various pollen and spore taxa within bat guano deposits, and features light micrographs and descriptions of 105 pollen taxa, including 81 arboreal and shrub taxa, 11 lianas, seven herbaceous taxa, three palm taxa, and three ferns. Among the total pollen assemblage, entomophilous plant taxa represented 42.8%, followed by wind-pollinated taxa at 9.5% and bat-pollinated taxa at 7.6%. Our data indicate that bat guano can provide valuable information on plant taxa that are underrepresented in more traditional pollen sampling sites such as peat bogs and lake sediments.

Storminess reconstruction in the northeastern Baltic Sea region over the past 7600 years based on aeolian sand influx into coastal bogs

This study aims to reconstruct the changes in storminess during the past 7600 years in the northeastern Baltic Sea region. For storminess reconstructions, aeolian sand influx (ASI) in coastal peat bog deposits was applied as an indicator of the past storminess. We analyzed cores from four peat bogs in the western and northern coastal areas of Estonia: the cores from Hiiumaa N, Hiiumaa SW, Saaremaa and Juminda study sites covered the past 3700, 3750, 2400, and 8400 years, respectively. The sediment chronologies were established using 36 14C dates. Image-analysis method ( ImageJ) was used to count and measure the grain size of all sand particles at every centimeter to gain high-resolution ASI records. Although minor site-to-site variations exist, all four ASI records were in general consistent, suggesting that stormier periods occurred around 7300, 6600, 5900, 4600, 3600, 2900, 2400, 2100, and 1600 cal yr BP and over the last 1200 years. The results and comparisons with other storminess and climate studies indicate a shift in climatic conditions around 2500 cal yr BP when stormy periods became more frequent. The ASI values were also high during the last millennium, suggesting either higher storminess or more suitable transport mechanisms for sand into the coastal bogs: the niveo-aeolian transport mode could have been favored in winters, especially during the Little Ice Age, and human impact on landscapes has probably increased over the past centuries.

Challenges in using 0.45 µm filters to assess potentially bioavailable trace elements in the dissolved fraction of river and peat bog waters of the Boreal Zone

Passing through a 0.45 µm filter can significantly alter the concentrations of dissolved trace elements (TEs) in organic-rich waters of the Boreal Zone. However, little evidence has been provided about the impacts of filtration on the size distribution of dissolved TEs. This limitation hinders our comprehension of how filtration affects the assessment of the potentially bioavailable forms of dissolved TEs (i.e. ions and small molecules). Using AF4-UV-ICP-MS, this study systematically investigates such artefacts and their influence on the concentrations of dissolved, primarily ionic, and colloid-associated TEs in river waters and peat bog waters of the Boreal Zone. In river waters (circumneutral pH), membrane filtration had a significant impact on TEs that are associated with inorganic colloids such as Al, Mn, Fe, As, the rare earth elements, Pb, and Th. Approximately 20–80 % of primarily ionic TEs (< 0.5 kDa) and 100 % of large inorganic (ca. 40–300 nm) TEs were excluded from the filtrates under clogged conditions. In contrast, little impact of filtration was observed for bog waters (pH 4). Similarly, cartridge filtration of river waters also led to a decrease in concentrations and size distributions of dissolved TEs. However, cartridge filtration demonstrated a higher efficiency in allowing the passage of ions and excluding colloids than membrane filtration. On average, the ratio of the dissolved concentrations between a cartridge and a membrane filtrate was 1.0 ± 0.2. For primarily ionic species, the average ratio was 1.4 ± 0.4, while for colloidal species, it was 0.4 ± 0.1. Therefore, despite having similar dissolved concentrations, filtration methods with the same nominal pore size can yield different concentrations of bioavailable forms of TEs. These findings may be important for studies of the environmental relevance of dissolved TEs in surface waters of the Boreal Zone, and organic-rich waters elsewhere.

Перспектива научных исследований торфяных болот Рязанской Мещеры

The article provides a brief analysis of the history of reclamation of the Meshcherskaya lowland marshes. The current state of the drained marshes of the Ryazan Meschera is shown. The theoretical aspects of their protection and rational use are described. The issue of restoration is considered – regeneration of worked-out swamps. A scientifically based perspective of studying peat bogs in national economic and environmental aspects in modern conditions is presented

Multidisciplinary assessment of seasonal ground displacements at the Hatfield Moors gas storage site in a peat bog landscape

The study aims to analyse ground displacement conditions observed over an Underground Gas Storage (UGS) site located at Hatfield Moors (United Kingdom), with a focus on understanding its implications for decarbonization efforts. The location serves as an active onshore storage site and was used as an analogy to assess ground motion implications around Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) by the British Geological Survey (BGS) as part of the SENSE (Assuring integrity of CO2 storage sites through ground surface monitoring) project. Given the value of continuous and real-time monitoring of ground movements induced by gas storage activities, the study leverages satellite Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data to assess the environmental impact of UGS operations. Using free and open-source Sentinel-1 satellite data, ground motion patterns over Hatfield Moors are analysed, highlighting displacements ranging from − 5.0 to -10.0 mm/year within the peat bog. In addition, the Time Series (TS) of ground displacement from January 2018 to December 2022 reveals a seasonality in ground motion, with uplift observed in late winter and subsidence in late summer, showing a periodicity of approximately 1 year and a magnitude of +/-10.0 mm. Through in-depth analysis, the study highlights the need to understand the underlying causes of ground fluctuations at gas storage sites. This paper shows that InSAR has the versatility to integrate seamlessly with different monitoring tools and methodologies, opening avenues for comprehensive and holistic analyses. Cross-correlation analyses further elucidate temporal relationships between different datasets by evaluating InSAR time series, UGS injection/withdrawal data and piezometric data. This involves decomposing the TS into distinct components, including trend, seasonality and residuals. The case of Hatfield Moors shows a significant discrepancy between the UGS data and the InSAR TS, while also demonstrating a clear correlation between the groundwater data and the InSAR TS. By integrating insights from geology, hydrology and remote sensing technologies, the study navigates the complexities inherent in areas of overlapping phenomena. Accurate interpretation is essential for informed decision making, particularly at sites such as Hatfield Moors, where the convergence of natural peat motion and storage operations highlights the need for interdisciplinary analysis to understand the underlying causes of ground fluctuation.

From small water bodies to lakes: Exploring the diversity of freshwater bacteria in an Alpine Biosphere Reserve

Small water bodies, although supporting high biodiversity, are often understudied in the Alpine region. In this work, we characterized the planktic and benthic bacterial communities, as well as the water chemistry, of a wide physiographic range of 19 freshwater bodies within an Alpine Biosphere Reserve, including ponds, pasture ponds, peat bogs, shallow lakes, and lakes. We collected both water and surface sediment samples, followed by metabarcoding analysis based on the V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. We investigated the changes in biodiversity and the distribution of unique and shared amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) between water (11,829 ASVs) and surface sediment (19,145 ASVs) habitats, as well as across different freshwater typologies. The majority of ASVs (78 %) were unique to a single sample, highlighting the variability and uniqueness of bacterial communities in such freshwater bodies. Most freshwater environments showed higher α-diversity in sediment samples (median, 1469 ASVs) compared to water (468 ASVs). We found that water and sediment habitats harboured unique bacterial communities with significant differences in their taxonomic compositions. Benthic bacteria were associated with several biogeochemical and degradative processes occurring in the sediments, with no notable differences among freshwater typologies and with phylogenetically and ecologically similar species. Conversely, planktic communities showed greater heterogeneity: small water bodies and peat bogs were characterized by higher relative abundances of Patescibacteria (up to 33 %), while lakes and shallow lakes were dominated by Actinobacteriota (up to 36 %). Cyanobacteria (426 ASVs) were generally distributed at low abundances in both water and sediment habitats. Overall, our results provided essential insights into the bacterial ecology of understudied environments such as ponds and pasture ponds and highlighted the importance of further exploring their rich pelagic and benthic bacterial biodiversity.

Assessment of the genetic polymorphism of genus Pinus L. the oligotrophic peat bog "Boloto Mshana"

Aim. To evaluate the molecular genetic polymorphism of representatives of the genus Pinus L. on the territory of the "Boloto Mshana" nature reserve, as well as to test the hypothesis about their possible local hybridization Methods. DNA extraction using CTAB and DNeasy Plant Pro Kit, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers for the chloroplast DNA and genes encoding β-tubulin (TBP markers), electrophoresis of DNA in a polyacrylamide gel with silver nitrate staining. Results. DNA profiles of P. mugo, P. sylvestris and probably P. uliginosa (21 samples in total) were analyzed using one chloroplast DNA marker and two DNA markers based on introns of β-tubulin genes (ТВР, сТВР). The intraspecific genetic polymorphism of the species was compared and the probability of the existence of hybrid forms was investigated. Conclusions. The marker based on the 2nd intron of the β-tubulin genes turned out to be the most effective and informative DNA marker for studying representatives of the Pinus L. genus. P. sylvestris showed less genetic polymorphism by the investigated genetic markers, compared to P. mugo and P. uliginosa. Possible hybrid forms (P. mugo ✕ P. sylvestris) or P. uliginosa were also discovered.

Modelling of Some Physical-Chemical Parameters of the Bikoro Peat Bogs in the Congo Basin in the North-West of the Democratic Republic of Congo

This study, carried out in the heart of one of the world&amp;apos;s most important wetlands, focuses on the modelling of certain physico-chemical parameters of the Bikoro peat bogs in the Congo Basin in the north-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. To this end, we have characterized the above-mentioned parameters using digital modeling based on satellite and in situ data from five villages that make up the three sectors of this territory. Some of the equipment used includes three GPS (Garminextrex 30), Cybertacker v3.435 on Android, cameras (Samsung Wifi 12x + GPS), passive sensors (Radar). We also used an infrared spectrophotometer. The main results in relation to the 240 samples taken show that the pH of the peat bogs in the Bikoro territory varies between (2.600±0.001) and (5.000±0.004), the electrical conductivity measured varies between [85.48±3.17] μS/cm and [97.99±5. 47] μS/cm, the experimental carbon rate reported in tonnes per hectare is 135.3021, the forest carbon stock derived from WWF LiDar is 137.1484 and the spatial distribution of the temperature of these peatlands indicates that it ranges between (22.39±1.05)°C and (24.79±1.95)°C. The results of this study show that the peat bogs in the Bikoro area are wetlands that are both significantly acidic and carbon sinks.

Soil Respiration Under a Short–Term Drought on the Example of Typical West Siberian Bogs (Middle Taiga)

Cumulative (June–August) soil respiration (Rsoil(cum)), obtained based on field measurements and mathematical modeling, increased from wet areas of the oligotrophic bog to drained ones – “Hollow E.”, “Hollow Sh.” (hollows, dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum and Scheuchzeria palustris, respectively), “Open bog” (sphagnum bog with sparse low pine trees), “Ridge” (oligotrophic ridges covered with low pine trees), “Tall ryam” and “Ryam” (forested pine-shrub-sphagnum bog): 135 ± 2.3, 139 ± 2.4, 275 ± 7.8, 279 ± 7.5, 466 ± 16.4, 510 ± 18.5 g C/ (m2 season), respectively (mean ± std). An important factor of seasonal and annual variability of Rsoil was the water table level (WTL): the extremely low amount of precipitation (6 mm) that fell in July 2022 led to a sharp drop of WTL in August, an increase of the aerated soil zone. As result, total Rsoil(cum) over the summer in the studied biotopes increases by 29–54% compared to the same period in 2021. At the same time, the most intensive growth of Rsoil during the drop of the WTL was on the edge of the bog (“Tall ryam”, “Ryam” and “Open Bog”), in contrast to its central area.

Multi-proxy reconstruction of climate changes from the Medieval Climate Anomaly to the Little Ice Age in Southeast China

Exploring climate fluctuations across geological eras provides crucial historical context for addressing contemporary global climate challenges. This research leverages multi-proxies records analytical techniques, including pollen and charcoal analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and assessments of humification degree and loss on ignition (LOI), alongside paleoclimate simulations based on an alpine peat bog in Jiangxi Province, Southeast China. The study aims to provide a comprehensive review of vegetation evolution, climatic shifts, East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensity, and the potential drivers behind EASM behavior over the past two millennia. Our findings reveal a significant transition in precipitation and temperature patterns from the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA, 960–1420 CE) to the Little Ice Age (LIA, 1420–1850 CE). A distinct pattern emerges, highlighting particularly wet periods occurring between 960–1050 CE, 1190–1250 CE, and 1350–1400 CE, as well as significant droughts during 1430–1550 CE, 1590–1650 CE, 1680–1720 CE, and 1750–1800 CE. When compared to our temperature reconstruction series and precipitation data, a clear correlation emerges—wet phases align with warmer period characteristic of the MCA. Based on our simulation results, we suggest that ENSO oscillations and the Indo-Pacific warm pool played a substantial role in driving climate dynamics from the MCA to the LIA.

Montane peatland response to drought: Evidence from multispectral and thermal UAS monitoring

This paper investigates the response of mid-latitude montane peatlands to climate warming, focusing on changes occurring in a montane peat bog during a drought period. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) equipped with multispectral and thermal sensors were used for high-resolution monitoring to analyze qualitative changes within the peat bog and their spatial distribution. The study was conducted in the Rokytka mountain peat bog in Šumava National Park, Czech Republic, which is one of the largest mountain peat bog complexes in Central Europe. Monitoring took place during the 2019 vegetation season, coinciding with the peak of the 2015–2019 drought. The recurrent UAS imaging campaigns were complemented by continuous hydrological and hydropedological monitoring and in-situ calibration measurements. The findings revealed diverging responses of montane peatlands to climate change across different functional zones of the peat bog. UAS thermal mapping identified distinct land surface temperature variations across various vegetation categories under different conditions. Notably, ponds and waterlogged areas displayed a stabilizing effect on land surface temperature variability, though they exhibited different absolute temperatures. In contrast, shallow waterlogged areas exhibited surface temperatures akin to dry open peat areas. Multispectral UAS monitoring demonstrated significant transitions among the peat bog zones in response to heat and drought propagation. The most pronounced changes occurred in shallow waterlogged areas, which shrank notably from 22.8% to 4.5%, while bare peat expanded from 26.8% to 45.5% during the 2019 drought season. High-resolution thermal and multispectral monitoring has revealed the scope and magnitude of the intra-peatland responses to drought and heat waves and serves as a sensible indicator of environmental changes of peatlands. It has disclosed a large cumulative effect of change in an environment composed of highly heterogeneous and subtle structures. The results highlighted the effectiveness of UAS monitoring in understanding the extent of change in montane peatlands as a fragile environment exposed to the effects of climate change.

Addressing Challenges of Membrane Clogging in AF4-UV-ICPMS Analysis for Size Determination of Trace Elements in Acidic, Organic-Rich Peat Bog Waters.

The analysis of colloid-associated trace elements (TEs) in acidic, organic-rich waters (pH 3.8-5.8) using AF4-UV-ICPMS often necessitates the use of neutral or weakly alkaline carriers (pH 7-8.6). Employing acidic mobile phases has been deemed impractical due to the substantial sorption of colloids onto a 0.3 kDa polyethersulfone (PES) membrane and greatly reduced separation performance. This has greatly restricted the determination of potentially bioavailable forms of TEs (i.e., < 1 kDa) in acidic, organic-rich waters. To address this issue, porewaters from Sphagnum moss and peat were investigated. Membrane clogging was more pronounced in peat porewaters, where a higher deposition rate of dissolved organic matter onto the membrane was observed compared to that in moss waters. This adsorption is driven by membrane-colloid interactions, with colloids in peat porewaters exhibiting weaker electrostatic repulsion due to their higher positive ζ-potentials. Considering the actual pore size and clogging tolerance of the membrane, it is advisable to employ a 5 kDa PES membrane for peat porewaters, while a 1 kDa PES membrane suits moss waters better. Employing the optimal method enables the separation of TEs within the 0.5-20 kDa size range. Operating within a metal-free, ultraclean laboratory, TEs are detectable at the ng·L-1 level. By enabling precise and accurate separation of dissolved TEs into their size species in these peat bog waters at an appropriate pH, this method addresses diverse size profiles. This information is crucial for comprehending the chemical forms, transformations, mobility, and potential bioavailability of TEs in peat bogs.