Managed peatlands as novel ecosystems

Although peatlands cover only about 3% of the land surface of the Earth they store approx. 42% of all soil carbon, if not considerably more, as newest model approaches suggest. Only a minor fraction of all peatlands (5%) is drained, making up a total of 0.15% of the land surface. However from this small land area approx. 5.5% of the global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions derive. Therefore, rewetting peatlands on a massive scale is seen as a viable option to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to create GHG sinks in the long run. 

Our understanding of the ecological and biogeochemical functioning of rewetted peatlands is limited, and especially limited when regarding fen peatlands, which are not even well understood in the pristine state. Thus, there is strong demand to investigate the ecological functioning of these ecosystems.

All peatlands that are not pristine anymore, are managed peatlands, regardless of wether they are still used, abandoned, or rewetted/restored. To ask the right questions regarding the ecological functioning of these systems, it is essential to acknowledge managed peatlands as novel ecosystems. The „novel ecosystem“ approach has been developed primarily to address the effect of invasive species or climate change on biodiversity and ecological functioning. „Novel“ ecosystems result as a consequence of human activity but don’t need ongoing human intervention to maintain the novel state. 

In my talk I will argue that understanding managed peatlands as novel ecosystems is essential to a proper investigation of their ecological and biogeochemical functioning. The argument will be based on the results of several recent research projects in managed temperate peatlands focussing on, inter alia, short-term and long-term vegetation development, GHG emissions and microbial community development.