Living on the Edge: The Effects of Drought on Canada's Western Boreal Peatlands

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511779701.015

14 - Living on the Edge: The Effects of Drought on Canada's Western Boreal Peatlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2012

R. Kelman Wieder and

Edited by

Nancy G. Slack and

Melanie A. Vile: Affiliation:
Villanova University, USA
Kimberli D. Scott: Affiliation:
Villanova University, USA
Erin Brault: Affiliation:
Villanova University, USA
R. Kelman Wieder: Affiliation:
Villanova University, USA
Dale H. Vitt: Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University, USA
Nancy G. Slack: Affiliation:
Sage Colleges, New York
Lloyd R. Stark: Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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Summary

Introduction

Boreal peatlands of Western Canada

Boreal peatland ecosystems occupy less than 3% of the earth's land surface, yet store between 250 and 455 Pg of C, which is roughly 20%–30% of the world's soil carbon (Gorham 1991; Charman 2002; Joosten & Clarke 2002; Vasander & Kettunen 2006). In continental western Canada, peatlands cover 365,157 km2 (Vitt et al. 2000) and dominate the landscape in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (Tarnocai 1984, 1998; Vitt et al. 2000; Tarnocai et al. 2005). Overall, these western Canadian peatlands have sequestered about 48 Pg of C during the past 10,000 years, with about half of this peat accumulated in the past 4000 years (Vitt et al. 2000). Peatlands provide a wide diversity of ecosystem services, not the least of which is the conversion of atmospheric CO2 into large accumulations of stored organic carbon (C) – a testament to the long-term function of these ecosystems as net C sinks since their widespread initiation after the most recent glacial retreat (Halsey et al. 2000). Bryophytes typically are dominant components of the vegetation in northern peatlands and play central roles with regard to nutrient cycling and carbon accumulation.

The initiation, development, succession, and rate of peat accumulation in boreal peatlands are dependent on regional factors such as climate, substrate chemistry, landscape position, and hydrological regime.

Type: Chapter
Information: Bryophyte Ecology and Climate Change , pp. 277 - 298

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511779701.015 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2011

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