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The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind. / FFION MAGUIRE

Swansea University Author: FFION MAGUIRE

Abstract

Peatlands cover just 3% of the global land mass, however, are one of the most important habitats in the world, due to associated ecosystem services. In Scotland, peatlands were once thought to have minimal environmental value, resulting in extensive planting of conifers in peatlands during the 20th...

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Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK 2024
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Research
Degree name: MRes
Supervisor: Froyd, C.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68055
first_indexed 2024-10-24T11:49:45Z
last_indexed 2024-11-25T14:21:20Z
id cronfa68055
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2024-10-24T12:49:47.0524151 v2 68055 2024-10-24 The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind. c33acb208317c0f78f8828e51331ab08 FFION MAGUIRE FFION MAGUIRE true false 2024-10-24 Peatlands cover just 3% of the global land mass, however, are one of the most important habitats in the world, due to associated ecosystem services. In Scotland, peatlands were once thought to have minimal environmental value, resulting in extensive planting of conifers in peatlands during the 20th century, following a timber shortage after the World Wars.Afforestation is a major threat to peatland ecosystems. Procedures to drain the peat, associated with tree planting, can have irreversible effects on future water balance and peat accumulation. Furthermore, afforestation results in ongoing threats to non-forested peatland, as wind-dispersed seeds from forestry plantations can cause naturally occurring afforestation, due to ecological succession. This study aimed to identify the ‘risk zone’ around forestry plantations, where peatlands are more susceptible to naturally occurring afforestation, through seed trap and lodgepole pine count studies in The Flow Country, Scotland. The greatest abundance of conifer seed and regeneration was recorded at 20 m from the forest, although evidence of seed dispersal was recorded up to 120.9 m. Variance in seed rain abundance was observed between sites, and there was a variance of seasonal seed rain abundance in comparison to relevant literature, as seeds were predominantly recorded during summer. Furthermore, microtopography was identified to impact conifer germination patterns, as higher densities of conifers were recorded on flat ground and ridges, than furrows. This study provides a step forward in understanding the management considerations for peatlands adjacent to forestry plantations and it was determined that ongoing management of conifer regeneration in peatlands will be required within 120 m of forestry plantations. The results also prove that seed traps are a suitable method for researching seed rain abundance, whilst highlighting limitations that need to be addressed. Furthermore, a need to consider naturally occurring afforestation when smoothing peat for restoration purposes wasidentified. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK Lodgepole pine, Sitka spruce, peatland, afforestation, Scotland 8 8 2024 2024-08-08 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Froyd, C. Master of Research MRes 2024-10-24T12:49:47.0524151 2024-10-24T11:25:08.0170044 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences FFION MAGUIRE 1 68055__32697__2c603ffb55dc4965a45085ac989c0e25.pdf 2024_Maguire_F.final.68055.pdf 2024-10-24T12:46:37.3062646 Output 68474145 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The Author, Ffion Maguire, 2024 true eng
title The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind.
spellingShingle The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind.
FFION MAGUIRE
title_short The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind.
title_full The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind.
title_fullStr The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind.
title_full_unstemmed The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind.
title_sort The Fight for Cinderella – How Forestry Plantations are Covertly Reducing Peatlands via Wind.
author_id_str_mv c33acb208317c0f78f8828e51331ab08
author_id_fullname_str_mv c33acb208317c0f78f8828e51331ab08_***_FFION MAGUIRE
author FFION MAGUIRE
author2 FFION MAGUIRE
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Peatlands cover just 3% of the global land mass, however, are one of the most important habitats in the world, due to associated ecosystem services. In Scotland, peatlands were once thought to have minimal environmental value, resulting in extensive planting of conifers in peatlands during the 20th century, following a timber shortage after the World Wars.Afforestation is a major threat to peatland ecosystems. Procedures to drain the peat, associated with tree planting, can have irreversible effects on future water balance and peat accumulation. Furthermore, afforestation results in ongoing threats to non-forested peatland, as wind-dispersed seeds from forestry plantations can cause naturally occurring afforestation, due to ecological succession. This study aimed to identify the ‘risk zone’ around forestry plantations, where peatlands are more susceptible to naturally occurring afforestation, through seed trap and lodgepole pine count studies in The Flow Country, Scotland. The greatest abundance of conifer seed and regeneration was recorded at 20 m from the forest, although evidence of seed dispersal was recorded up to 120.9 m. Variance in seed rain abundance was observed between sites, and there was a variance of seasonal seed rain abundance in comparison to relevant literature, as seeds were predominantly recorded during summer. Furthermore, microtopography was identified to impact conifer germination patterns, as higher densities of conifers were recorded on flat ground and ridges, than furrows. This study provides a step forward in understanding the management considerations for peatlands adjacent to forestry plantations and it was determined that ongoing management of conifer regeneration in peatlands will be required within 120 m of forestry plantations. The results also prove that seed traps are a suitable method for researching seed rain abundance, whilst highlighting limitations that need to be addressed. Furthermore, a need to consider naturally occurring afforestation when smoothing peat for restoration purposes wasidentified.
published_date 2024-08-08T06:43:18Z
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score 11.089864

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