Fen restoration: defining a reference ecosystem using paleoecological stratigraphy and present-day inventories

Choosing past and present-day indicators could strengthen the reference ecosystem used for ecological restoration projects. Based on the paleoecological analysis of four peat cores and the characterization of 13 contemporary natural sites, the reference ecosystem for minerotrophic peatlands in southeastern Canada is composed of two types of plant assemblages described as tall-sedge and Sphagnum-Thuja/brown moss broad categories. In paleoecological peat profiles, tall-sedge communities were found at the transition between aquatic and terrestrial and were associated with high graminoid production, riverine peatlands and elevated water table in the present-day analyses. Sphagnum-Thuja communities resemble present-day vegetation found in natural basin type peatlands. Except for Sphagnum warnstorfii, these communities, with high taxonomical diversity, contain more generalist species like Rhododendron groenlandicum, Thuja occidentalis, Linnaea borealis and Maianthemum trifolium from boreal peatland vegetation. They grow in dryer or shady habitats like hummocks or forest understory. The importance of brown mosses was revealed by paleoecological analysis. Overall, findings from both approaches are complementary: paleoecological stratigraphy informs us about past ecosystem dynamics, while present-day inventories allow us to define current plant communities and their major environmental characteristics. The range of variability of vegetation and environmental variables found in these studies are essential tools for fen restoration projects.

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