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Groundwater-fed helocrene springs constitute hydrologically heterogeneous environment, vulnerable to human and climate-induced changes. Using quantitative samples of clitellate assemblages, we investigated whether hydrologically stable nearby streams can serve as refugia for species inhabiting helocrenes, prone to seasonal desiccation. As water conductivity constitutes the main environmental gradient of helocrene springs, we categorized them as low or high-conductivity sites and compared their assemblage diversity. We hypothesized that the spring–stream association can change along this gradient, expecting assemblage homogenization is promoted by high tufa precipitation, creating differences with tufa-free nearby streams. Contrary to this prediction, the assemblages of low-conductivity helocrenes were more homogeneous, being also significantly different from those in the streams. This result is related to the apparently more favorable tufa-free substrate at low-conductivity fens, as shown by the high taxa richness and the number of indicator species. Contrary to the other invertebrates, the clitellates differed between spring fens and streams only under acidic conditions. It seems that small adjacent streams can only serve as potential refugia for spring fen biota at sites with high conductivity, while at sites with low conductivity, clitellate assemblages differ more from those in adjacent streams and thus are more susceptible to disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use changes and anthropogenic disturbances are major threats to biodiversity, affecting ecosystem function and recovery. In boreal Alberta, Canada, petroleum development has led to extensive landscape fragmentation, notably through linear clearings created for seismic exploration that remove surface vegetation and microtopography. Despite partial recovery on forested seismic lines, peatland recovery is often arrested, impacting wildlife and carbon dynamics. Restoration efforts employ silviculture techniques to create microtopography and foster tree growth, but the efficacy of restoration treatments in restoring peatland plant diversity remains uncertain. We compared taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of understory plant communities across treated and untreated seismic lines, alongside reference sites in treed bogs and fens. Treated lines generally had a twofold increase in plant height, leaf dry matter content, and foliar nitrogen and phosphorus contents compared to reference sites. In bogs, treated lines differed from reference conditions driven by increases in herbaceous taxa, while fens displayed disparities mainly in taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. Differential responses of bogs and fens underline the necessity for tailored management strategies. Changes in plant diversity away from restoration targets have implications for ecosystem recovery, emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of silviculture techniques in restoring boreal peatland plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An environmental proxy routinely used in paleoecological studies of peatlands is testate amoebae, which are used to infer successional and hydrological shifts through time. However, since many species of protists globally remain undescribed, important ecological information about community assemblages and their interaction with environmental conditions in both the past and present has potential gaps. During the analysis of testate amoeba assemblages from peat cores across the Hudson and James Bay region of Canada, a testate amoeba that has not been formally described was discovered with high abundance in subfossil assemblages (up to 50%). We describe this new species, Pyxidicula muskegii sp. nov., using morphometric measurements of tests from these peat core records and demonstrate its environmental preferences using modern samples collected from the same region. The hemispheric shape and irregular areolar surface pattern on the test, along with its preference for lawns in both fens and bogs, support that P. muskegii is a new species. This species is also found in much lower relative abundance in modern samples (<3%) than in paleo-peat core records. This difference in modern and paleo-assemblage suggests that there is a taphonomic bias in their relative abundance with depth, which we attribute to their organic test that is less prone to decomposition. Therefore, it is critical to include rare taxa within future transfer function models to incorporate their environmental tolerances and improve model predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:Methods:Key results and discussion:A reliable method for measuring brown moss production helps us to understand the functioning of fen peatlands and to quantify their peat formation rate. However, traditional methods based on height increment are not suitable for measuring the growth rate of brown mosses with numerous lateral branches.The growth rate of common brown moss species in temperate and boreal fens was measured using two methods: (i) the marking method – a moss shoot was marked with oil paint and its growth increment measured from the mark (in the laboratory and in the field); and (ii) the plug method – a fragment of a moss colony was ‘plugged' (i.e. cored), weighed and replanted in a small basket for a year, then weighed again; a similar and bottomless basket was fixed in the moss colony as a control.Despite promising laboratory results, the marking method gave low shoot survival in the field, probably due to the restriction of external water transport along the shoots. No differences in shoot elongation were found between the plug method and the control. The plug method comprises the measurement of both apical and lateral growth, and the authors of the present study therefore recommend it for measuring the growth of brown mosses with numerous lateral branches. Considering only the elongation of the top shoots leads to an underestimation of growth by 50% and consequently to an underestimation of the peat-forming potential of brown mosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) in the Irish peatlands was investigated in five different peatland habitats—raised bog, cutover scrub/woodlands, fens and peat grasslands, which were further sub-categorised into fourteen different sub-habitats. Within the raised bog habitat were healthy bog hummock (HBH), healthy bog lawn (HBL), degraded bog hummock (DBH) and degraded bog lawn (DBL) and the fen habitats were fen peat (FP) and rich fen peat (R-FP). Cutover scrub or woodland habitat included cutover scrub rewetted (C-RW), cutover scrub non-rewetted (C-NRW), woodlands rewetted (W-RW) and woodlands non-rewetted (W-NRW). Grassland included wasted peat (WP), rough grazing (RG-I) and improved fen peat grassland (IFPG-RW and IFPG-NRW). Soil samples from peatlands were all collected between July and December 2023 when the temperature ranged from 12 to 20 °C. One half of each sample was used for molecular nematode analysis and the other half for morphological identification of nematodes. For the morphological identification, a specific nematode extraction protocol was optimised for peatland soils, and the extracted nematodes were fixed onto slides to be studied under a high-power light microscope. Subsequently, the other part of the soil was processed to isolate total DNA, from which the 18S rRNA gene was sequenced for the identification of nematode taxa. The extracted DNA was also used for randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting analysis to determine banding patterns that could classify different bog habitats based on PPN random primers. Compared to that in the climax habitats (HBH, HBL, DBH, DBL, FP, R-FP), PPN prevalence was recorded as being higher in grasslands (WP, RG-I, IFPG-RW and IFPG-NRW) and scrub/woodland ecosystems (C-RW, C-NRW, W-RW, W-NRW). The results indicate that nematode populations are different across the various bog habitats. Emerging and current quarantine PPN belonging to the families Pratylenchidae, Meloidogynidae, Anguinidae and Heteroderidae were noted to be above the threshold limits mentioned under EPPO guidelines, in grassland and wooded peatland habitats. Future actions for PPN management may need to be considered, along with the likelihood that these PPN might impact future paludiculture and other crops and trees growing in nearby agricultural lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liparis loeselii is a rare and declining orchid species restricted to rich fens in the Northern Hemisphere. Habitat destruction, eutrophication, drainage and scrub encroachment have been suggested as reasons for the decline. However, which factors are most important is not well understood. Based on vegetation and environmental properties from extant, potential and historical L. loeselii sites, we 1) developed habitat suitability models from either Ellenberg Indicator Values, which were derived from known habitat preferences of co‐occurring plant species, or field‐measured environmental properties, and 2) identified the primary reasons for the observed decline of L. loeselii. We found nutrient status to be the most important predictor for L. loeselii occurrence, followed by hydrology proxies (Ellenberg reaction and Ellenberg moisture). Vegetation height and Ellenberg light were of minor importance. Effect partitioning based on sites, from which L. loeselii has gone locally extinct, pinpointed eutrophication and drainage to be the most likely primary drivers of the species' demise. Phosphorus limitation induced by discharge of calcium‐rich groundwater seems to be crucial for L. loeselii to sustain populations in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The influence of species phylogenetic relatedness on the formation of insular assemblages remains understudied in functional island biogeography, especially for terrestrial habitat islands (i.e. distinct habitat patches embedded in a matrix that differ in the prevailing environmental conditions). Here, we tested three eco‐evolutionary hypotheses: (1) functional specialization of species (i.e. specialism) is associated with phylogenetic clustering at the habitat archipelago scale, (2) such clustering increases with insularity at the habitat island scale and (3) traits indicative of effective local persistence strategies shape island specialism. Location: Terrestrial habitat islands, Europe (Fens in the Western Carpathians, Outcrops in Moravia and Mountaintops in the Cantabrian Range). Taxon: Angiosperms. Methods: We assessed the phylogenetic relatedness of habitat specialists in three different archipelagos composed of terrestrial habitat islands based on phylogenetic signals and phylogenetic diversity (PD) measures. We estimated the effect of insularity on PD using linear models and the effect of persistence traits on specialism using phylogenetic logistic regressions. Results: Our hypotheses were largely not supported. Outcrop and mountaintop specialist assemblages did not exhibit any phylogenetic structuring, whereas fen specialists were clustered at the archipelago scale. Therefore, insularity seems not to act as a selective force for phylogenetic structure, and ecologically important persistence traits do not operate as precursors of specialism. Main Conclusions: Our results show that species phylogenetic relatedness plays a minor role in shaping habitat island specialist assemblages. Furthermore, the effects of phylogenetic relatedness on assemblages of island specialists are system and scale dependent. Finally, accounting for species' phylogenetic relatedness on persistence traits yielded results similar to previous studies, which corroborates the positive relationship between insularity and functional traits (indicative of enhanced plant persistence abilities with increasing within‐archipelago insularity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatlands with ground surfaces near the water table may be sensitive to disturbances that reduce this distance to water. Shrubby rich fens (SRF) in northern Alberta, Canada, are restricted to the wettest landscape positions and are characterized by brown mosses and stunted trees on weakly consolidated and saturated substrates. In situ oil sands exploration (OSE) practices have established thousands of drilling pads to explore for deeply buried bitumen deposits, with many located on peatlands. In the development of OSE pads on peatlands, the vegetation layer is removed, eliminating the functionally important hummock‐hollow surface topography. We examined the spontaneous regeneration of bryophytes and vascular plants and surface microtopography on SRF, 7 and again 14 years after pad abandonment. In both sampling years, drilling pad surfaces were closer to the water table (mean pad elevation 2012 = 3.3 cm, 2019 = 5.6 cm) and had minor topography compared to adjacent reference habitat. We found, however, over the 7 years, that for both drilling pads and reference habitat, bryophyte and vascular plant richness decreased, and most species declined in frequency. Furthermore, for pads and reference habitat, density of tree seedlings decreased, and expansion of hummock‐forming mosses was limited. Findings suggest that drilling pads and their natural counterparts on SRF may be prone to episodic reductions in plant diversity and ecosystem retrogression, likely resulting from prolonged surface saturation during summers with high rainfall. Because of their wet landscape positions and environmental vulnerability, SRF are likely the peatland habitats slowest to recover following OSE pad construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we address the combined impact of multiple stressors that are becoming more common with climate change. To study the combined effects of a lower water table (WT) and increased frequency of drought periods on the resistance and resilience of peatlands, we conducted a mesocosm experiment. This study evaluated how the photosynthesis of lawn Sphagnum mosses responds to and recovers from an experimental periodic drought after exposure to the stresses of a deep or deepened WT (naturally dry and 17‐year‐long water level drawdown [WLD] in fen and bog environments).We aimed to quantify if deep WTs (1) support acclimation to drought, or (2) increase the base‐level physiological stress of mosses or (3) exacerbate the impact of periodic drought.There was no evidence of acclimation in mosses from drier environments; periodic drought decreased the photosynthesis of all Sphagnum species studied. WLDdecreased the photosynthesis of bog‐originating mosses prior to periodic drought, indicating that these mosses were stressed by the hydrological change. Deep WTs exacerbated Sphagnum vulnerability to periodic drought, indicating that the combination of drying habitats and increasing frequency of periodic drought could lead to a rapid transition in lawn vegetation. Water‐retaining traits may increase Sphagnum resilience to periodic drought. Large capitula size was associated with a higher resistance; the bog originating species studied here lacked large capitula or dense carpet structure and were more vulnerable to drought than the larger fen originating species. Consequently, lawns in bogs may become threatened.Recovery after rewetting was significant for all mosses, but none completely recovered within 3 weeks. The most drought‐resilient species had fen origin, indicating that fens are less likely to undergo a sudden transition due to periodic drought.Synthesis: Water level drawdown associated with climate change increases the sensitivity of Sphagnum mosses to periods of drought and moves them closer to their tipping point as species on the edge of their ecological envelope rapidly shut down photosynthesis and recover poorly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavation of a postulated early Medieval hermitage near Crowland, England, identified a site with a long and complex chronological sequence. During the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, a monumental henge was built, among the largest so far identified in the Fens of eastern England, probably later adapted into a timber circle. After a period of apparent abandonment, the interior of the henge was reoccupied around the 7th century a.d. and, after further early Medieval phases, was transformed by the abbots of Crowland through construction of a high-status hall and chapel complex in the later 12th century a.d. While no conclusive evidence was found for an early hermitage that local tradition associates with the eremites Guthlac and Pega, Anchor Church Field offers an exceptional case study of an evolving sacred landscape in a deep-time perspective, culminating in its redevelopment by the Anglo-Norman monastery to claim legitimacy from illustrious saintly forebears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatlands represent an important part of the landscape of boreal western Canada, occupying some 365,157 km2. Sixty-three percent of these are minerogenous fens. Scattered among these fens are landscape features that have unique and distinctive patterns—pools and carpets (flarks) separated by raised linear 'strings'. These patterned fens harbor rare and uncommon species and serve as habitats for endangered wildlife (e.g., woodland caribou, whooping cranes). In this study, utilizing Google Earth Pro (1) we documented 1083 ribbed fens and 250 reticulate fens in the province of Alberta, Canada; (2) determined the regional variation in patterned fen occurrences; (3) described the various morphological forms of patterned fens; and (4) recognized these as six distinctive peatland site-types. Patterned fens are not randomly arranged on the landscape. Ribbed fens are concentrated on regional high elevational uplands and montane benchlands with morainal deposits, while reticulate fens are more numerous on low elevation plains with glacial-fluvial and glacial-lacustrine deposits. Patterned fens vary along minerotrophic vegetation and chemical gradients and have a complex set of morphological types. To our knowledge, this is the first study that provides base line information on the abundance and distribution of patterned fens in Alberta and associates morphological patterned fen types with environmental or geological characteristics. The digital files and maps provide a permanent record against which future change can be compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The habitats protected by the European Union (EU) include most peat vegetation, such as mires, swamp mires, fens, and peat bogs—all belonging to the classes Oxycocco–Sphagnetea and Scheuchzerio–Caricetea fuscae and carrying the Habitat Codes 71xx and 72xx. These types of vegetation are typical of cold and cool temperate climates, while they become rarer in Southern Europe where Mediterranean influences prevail, representing relic fragments of the past glacial climatic conditions there. Because of their limited extension and the increasing warmth and drought due to climate change, they are seriously threatened. Even if many studies were performed, their richness and distribution across Europe are still not well–understood, and only a few examples are known from the Central and Southern Apennines to date. In order to provide the syntaxonomical classification of the alkaline fens referable to the EU Habitat 7230 found on the mountain plateaus of the Central Apennines, we analyzed their species structure and flora composition, together with their chorological and ecological characteristics. We also evaluated their conservation status, pressures, and threats. The alkaline fens of the Central Apennines are found to be poorer in diagnostic species when compared to similar communities of Central and Northern Europe. However, they are rich in the species of the surrounding meadows and pastures. Among them, the new subassociation Caricetum davallianae caricetosum hostianae is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent development of genetic methods has facilitated the identification of cryptic species across different groups of organisms, including plants. However, next‐generation sequencing has rarely been used to study cryptic speciation in plants, especially in bryophytes, organisms with a dominant haploid life phase. The ability to capture variation across the whole genome makes this method an effective tool for distinguishing cryptic lineages. We have focused on the genetic structure of the moss Meesia triquetra along the Alps‐to‐Scandinavia transect. We detected the presence of the two genetically critically different lineages of M. triquetra in Europe. These lineages overlap in both morphological characters of the gametophyte and distribution ranges. However, they considerably differ in ecological preferences to groundwater pH. While lineage 1 occupied alkaline to subneutral fens, lineage 2 occurred in fens saturated with neutral to acidic water. We consider the entities cryptic species with respect to genetic and ecological differences but the absence of morphological features necessary for determining the entities. We hypothesize that fragmentation of the ancestral population of the moss in geographically isolated refugia differing in the commonness of acidic and alkaline substrates led to consequent long‐term adaptation to different environmental conditions, then drove diversification in M. triquetra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: The latitudinal biodiversity gradient; i.e., the increase in biodiversity towards the equator, is one of the most prominent biodiversity patterns. Nevertheless, many questions remain to be answered about the influence of multiple environmental factors on the latitudinal biodiversity gradient, especially for mosses, and the functional diversity of mosses and vascular plants. This study aims at evaluating the influence of latitude, climate, environmental variables, and habitat types (bog vs fen) on taxonomic and functional diversity (α‐diversity and β‐diversity) and the composition of vascular plant and moss species. Location: 49° N to 55° N in Northwestern Quebec, Canada. Taxon: Mosses, vascular plants. Methods: We used a database containing 376 phytosociological plots (400 m2) sampled in boreal peatlands located along a 600‐km latitudinal gradient. We evaluated changes in α‐diversity and β‐diversity in response to latitude, longitude, climate, and local abiotic variables for both taxonomic groups using linear mixed effect models. We evaluated the effects of these variables on taxonomic and functional composition using variance partitioning by redundancy analysis. Results: Moss diversity increased with latitude, although the effects were masked by environmental variables, whereas vascular plant diversity decreased with latitude in fens and did not vary with latitude in bogs. We observed a decrease in taxonomic and functional uniqueness with latitude. Moss and vascular plant taxonomic and functional composition were primarily structured by contrasting local conditions in bogs and fens, whereas climatic variations along the latitudinal gradient played a secondary role. Conclusions: Our results highlight the contrasting biodiversity patterns in both peatland types and the importance of local habitat conditions in structuring vascular plant and moss diversity. These patterns varied depending on the diversity indicator used, as α‐ and β‐diversity and functional and taxonomic diversity were often decoupled. Future studies should therefore include more than one diversity indicator and consider the differences between ecosystems and taxon groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic lines in western Canada's boreal region are linear disturbances that affect the habitat of threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). To hasten the return of forest cover and ultimately to restore caribou habitat, restoration managers use silviculture treatments in wet areas that involve the mechanical mounding of seismic lines to create artificial hummocks. Tree planting then takes place on top of these hummocks. However, the effectiveness of this silviculture technique for restoring seismic lines in peatlands is largely untested. Here we sampled incremental height growth of coniferous seedlings at 41 seismic line plots in poor and rich treed fens in northeast Alberta, Canada. We compared lines that had been treated with inverted mounding (a type of mechanical mounding) and subsequent tree planting, to nearby lines that were left untreated for natural recovery. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the effect of silviculture treatments on 5‐year growth increments of black spruce (Picea mariana) and tamarack (Larix laricina). Overall, we found that mounding and tree planting improved seedling growth compared to seismic lines regenerating naturally. However, growth responses were found to vary by species, ecosite, initial seedling size, and light availability. This suggests that site‐specific prioritization of mounding within peatlands may be more efficient considering the widespread nature of seismic lines. Future experiments testing growth responses to other mounding techniques that are designed to preserve the soil profile. It is also important for managers to weigh restoration goals beyond tree establishment and an accelerated return to forest cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover image: The large capitula of the peat moss Sphagnum papillosum form thick carpets in nutrient‐poor fens, such as this one in Orivesi, Finland. Their large size allows them to hold water and resist desiccation during seasonal droughts, which are becoming increasingly common. Image by Nicola Kokkonen. For full details see pages 1210–1224.. [Extracted from the article]

Philonotis breutelioides, described new in 2022 as a California endemic within fen communities, has recently been found in Oregon. Provided is a site description and a range map depicting occurrences from both California and Oregon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To describe the species composition and richness of a northern boreal rich fen case, to study, how Cajanderian site types and species gradients (composition, richness) elucidate the vegetation variation, and how measured environmental variables verify the proposed site type sequence. Location: Oulanka region, Koillismaa, NE Finland. Methods: We chose 15 mires having rich fens for sampling. In those mires, 87 1 × 4 m relevés with four 0.25 m2 small plots for seven Cajanderian site types were sampled for vascular plants, liverworts, mosses, and lichens and environmental variables. The relevancy of the classification was tested by the grouping of relevés within the ordination surface, and a hierarchic classification by exclusive species, preferential species, and differential species was performed for the site types and subtypes by the survey of the full vegetation table. Additional compositional gradients were interpreted by the ordination. Results: Coherent grouping of relevés by the site types in the ordination refers to, that the Cajanderian classification is a relevant vegetation classification of boreal rich fens in N Europe. The site types differed in relation to water-table levels, and the compositional survey revealed groups such as rich fens proper (flark and lawn fens, upper lawn fens, combination site types) and seasonally dry rich-fen wetlands. Ordination analysis only weakly revealed separate extreme-rich fen variants of rich-fen site types, and this variation was partly associated with the prominent mire expanse to margin compositional gradient. Also, species richness was mainly associated with that gradient. The stability of the water regime was another main gradient by the ordination. Surface-soil pH and conductivity values were highest in Palustriella falcata seepage fens and curiously in Sphagnum warnstorfii rich fens. Conclusion: It may be possible to revise the phytosociological fen-classification of northern alliances, too, based on the site type interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria of the phylum Verrucomicrobiota colonize a wide spectrum of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. One of the ecosystems where verrucomicrobia represent a significant part of the indigenous microbial community are wetlands. All earlier published information regarding phylogenetic diversity of verrucomicrobia in wetlands, however, refers to raised bogs, while verrucomicrobial diversity in fens remains poorly explored. In this study, we performed a comparative diversity analysis of Verrucomicrobiota in six fens of Vologda region. Nucleotide sequences of verrucomicrobia comprised 4 to 7% of all 16S rRNA gene reads retrieved from the examined peat samples. The most abundant groups were represented by members of the families Pedosphaeraceae, Opitutaceae and the order Chtoniobacterales, as well as the as-yet-uncultivated order-candidate S-BQ2-57. Numerical correlation between the relative abundance of well-represented taxa and peat characteristics was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding large‐scale drivers of biodiversity in palustrine wetlands is challenging due to the combined effects of macroclimate and local edaphic conditions. In boreal and temperate fen ecosystems, the influence of macroclimate on biodiversity is modulated by hydrological settings across habitats, making it difficult to assess their vulnerability to climate change. Here, we investigate the influence of macroclimate and edaphic factors on three Essential Biodiversity Variables across eight ecologically defined habitats that align with ecosystem classifications and red lists. We used 27,555 vegetation plot samples from European fens to assess the influence of macroclimate and groundwater pH predictors on the geographic distribution of each habitat type. Additionally, we modeled the relative influence of macroclimate, water pH, and water table depth on community species richness and composition, focusing on 309 plant specialists. Our models reveal strong effects of mean annual temperature, diurnal thermal range, and summer temperature on biodiversity variables, with contrasting differences among habitats. While macroclimatic factors primarily shape geographic distributions and species richness, edaphic factors emerge as the primary drivers of composition for vascular plants and bryophytes. Annual precipitation exhibits non‐linear effects on fen biodiversity, with varying impact across habitats with different hydrological characteristics, suggesting a minimum requirement of 600 mm of annual precipitation for the occurrence of fen ecosystems. Our results anticipate potential impacts of climate warming on European fens, with predictable changes among habitat types and geographic regions. Moreover, we provide evidence that the drivers of biodiversity in boreal and temperate fens are closely tied to the ecological characteristics of each habitat type and the dispersal abilities of bryophytes and vascular plants. Given that the influence of macroclimate and edaphic factors on fen ecosystems is habitat specific, climate change research and conservation actions should consider ecological differentiation within functional IUCN ecosystems at continental and regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Herbivores can exert a controlling effect on the reproduction and growth of shrubs, thereby counter‐acting the climate‐driven encroachment of shrubs in the Arctic and the potential consequences. This control is particularly evident in the case of abundant herbivores, such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), whose grazing patterns are affected by management. Here, we tested how different reindeer grazing practices on the border between Finland and Norway impact the occurrence of willow (Salix spp.) dominated patches, their above‐ground biomass (AGB) and the ability of willows to form dense thickets. We used a combination of multispectral and RGB imagery obtained from unoccupied aerial vehicles field data and an ensemble of machine‐learning models, which allowed us to model the occurrence of plant community types (Overall accuracy = 0.80), AGB fractions (maximum R2 = 0.90) and topsoil moisture (maximum R2 = 0.89). With this combination of approaches, we show that willows are kept in a browsing‐trap under spring and early summer grazing by reindeer, growing mostly small and scattered in the landscape. In contrast, willows under the winter grazing regime formed dense stands, particularly within riparian areas. We confirm this pattern using a random forest willow habitat distribution model based on topographical parameters. The model shows that willow biomass correlated with parameters of optimal habitat quality only in the winter grazing regime and did not respond to the same parameters under spring and summer grazing of reindeer.

Fire can play an important role in peatlands by modifying plant communities and carbon (C) stocks. However, baseline disturbance data on peatland fire history are lacking in the hemi-boreal region. We sampled 29 peatlands in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and used peat core records, radiocarbon dating, and infrared spectrometry to identify and date past fire events in 4 major hemi-boreal peatland ecotypes including open poor fens, treed poor fens, forested poor fens, and forested rich fens. In this region all types of poor fens had widely variable fire frequencies between sites. The poor fens experienced 2.1 fires per thousand years, or once every 476 years, on average, while the rich fens experienced almost no fire. Overall C stocks ranged from 10.1 to 263.3 kg C m−2 with a mean of 94.6 and median of 90.5 kg C m−2. The long-term apparent rate of carbon accumulation (LARCA) varied between 10–45 g m−2 y−1 with an average of 28 g m−2 y−1. We found a significant negative relationship between fire frequency and LARCA. Our research indicates that fire frequency is not consistent across peatland types and increases in fire frequency will likely diminish peat C stocks. These findings provide a historical context for management decisions concerning wildland fires and their consequences for ecosystem C storage in hemi-boreal peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivores can exert a controlling effect on the reproduction and growth of shrubs, thereby counter‐acting the climate‐driven encroachment of shrubs in the Arctic and the potential consequences. This control is particularly evident in the case of abundant herbivores, such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), whose grazing patterns are affected by management. Here, we tested how different reindeer grazing practices on the border between Finland and Norway impact the occurrence of willow (Salix spp.) dominated patches, their above‐ground biomass (AGB) and the ability of willows to form dense thickets. We used a combination of multispectral and RGB imagery obtained from unoccupied aerial vehicles field data and an ensemble of machine‐learning models, which allowed us to model the occurrence of plant community types (Overall accuracy = 0.80), AGB fractions (maximum R2 = 0.90) and topsoil moisture (maximum R2 = 0.89). With this combination of approaches, we show that willows are kept in a browsing‐trap under spring and early summer grazing by reindeer, growing mostly small and scattered in the landscape. In contrast, willows under the winter grazing regime formed dense stands, particularly within riparian areas. We confirm this pattern using a random forest willow habitat distribution model based on topographical parameters. The model shows that willow biomass correlated with parameters of optimal habitat quality only in the winter grazing regime and did not respond to the same parameters under spring and summer grazing of reindeer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Leukoaraiosis and other brain MRI‐assessed parameters were shown to be associated with recurrent stroke in this population. We aimed to develop an MRI‐based predictive tool for risk stratification of ESUS patients. Methods: We retrospectively assessed consecutive patients who were diagnosed with ESUS and underwent brain MRI and performed a multivariable analysis with the outcome of recurrent stroke/TIA. Based on the coefficient of each covariate, we generated an integer‐based point scoring system. The discrimination and calibration of the score were assessed using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve, net reclassification improvement, integrated discrimination improvement, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Also, we compared the new score with a previously published score (ALM score). Results: Among 176 patients followed for an overall period of 902.3 patient‐years (median of 74 months), there were 39 recurrent ischemic stroke/TIAs (4.32 per 100 patient‐years). Fazekas score (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.03–1.54), enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) (HR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.12–6.17), NIHSS at admission (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.18), and infarct subtypes (HR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.34–6.17) were associated with recurrent stroke/TIA. Accordingly, a score (FENS score) was developed with AUC‐ROC values of 0.863, 0.788, and 0.858 for 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. These were significantly better than the AUC‐ROC of ALM score (0.635, 0.695, and 0.705, respectively). The FENS score exhibited better calibration and discrimination ability than the ALM score (Hosmer–Lemeshow test χ2: 4.402, p = 0.819). Conclusion: The MRI‐based FENS score can provide excellent predictive performance for recurrent stroke/TIA and may assist in risk stratification of ESUS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of cultivated fen peat soils into rewetted soils can mitigate global climate change. Specifically, carbon in newly formed peat can store atmospheric CO2 for a long time in soil, but alterations in the quality of soil organic matter are not well known. To shed light on the complex processes of peat degradation or new formation under dry or rewetting conditions, we investigated and quantified saturated n-alkyl acids as an indicator compound class of peatlands response to the contrasting management practices. The concentrations of saturated n-alkyl acids from two soil layers of the drained and rewetted were determined in two soil layers of drained and rewetted fenland types such as Alder Carr forest, coastal peatland, and percolation mire. The analytical methods were solvent extraction, methylation with tetramethylammonium hydroxide, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The saturated n-alkyl acid distribution pattern showed that the concentrations of long C-chain lengths were larger by factors of up to 28 relative to the short C-chain lengths. The effect of rewetting was reflected by the ratios of the summed concentrations of long (n-C21:0 to n-C34:0) to short (n-C10:0 to n-C20:0) C-chain saturated n-alkyl acids for drained and rewetted peat soil samples. These ratios were consistently lower in samples from the rewetted sites, indicating a higher input of microbial bio- and necromass to soil organic matter, likely from algae and anaerobic bacteria, under rewetting. The results suggest that the enrichment of microbial biomass and necromass in rewetted soils may be an important contributor to the formation of new peat in fenlands, irrespective of fenland type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The habitats protected by the European Union (EU) include most peat vegetation, such as mires, swamp mires, fens, and peat bogs—all belonging to the classes Oxycocco–Sphagnetea and Scheuchzerio–Caricetea fuscae and carrying the Habitat Codes 71xx and 72xx. These types of vegetation are typical of cold and cool temperate climates, while they become rarer in Southern Europe where Mediterranean influences prevail, representing relic fragments of the past glacial climatic conditions there. Because of their limited extension and the increasing warmth and drought due to climate change, they are seriously threatened. Even if many studies were performed, their richness and distribution across Europe are still not well–understood, and only a few examples are known from the Central and Southern Apennines to date. In order to provide the syntaxonomical classification of the alkaline fens referable to the EU Habitat 7230 found on the mountain plateaus of the Central Apennines, we analyzed their species structure and flora composition, together with their chorological and ecological characteristics. We also evaluated their conservation status, pressures, and threats. The alkaline fens of the Central Apennines are found to be poorer in diagnostic species when compared to similar communities of Central and Northern Europe. However, they are rich in the species of the surrounding meadows and pastures. Among them, the new subassociation Caricetum davallianae caricetosum hostianae is described.

The article discusses the importance of maintaining strong European cohesion in scientific research and collaboration. It highlights the potential negative impact of recent political events on pan-European research and emphasizes the need for a united European research community that is independent from political bodies. The article specifically focuses on the field of neuroscience, which relies heavily on international collaboration and resources. It calls for action from the scientific community to protect and strengthen European cohesion in science, and suggests that the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) can play a crucial role in this endeavor. [Extracted from the article]

Planctomycetes are common inhabitants of northern wetland ecosystems. In this study, a new planctomycete of the genus Paludisphaera, strain Pla2T, was isolated from a boreal fen in Russia. The novel isolate was represented by nonmotile, pink-pigmented, spherical cells that multiplied by budding and occurred singly or were assembled in small aggregates. Strain Pla2T was a chemoorganotrophic, psychrotolerant mesophile with a growth optimum at pH 5.5‒6 and 15‒20°C. The preferred growth substrates were polysaccharides, including xylan, xanthan gum, and phytagel, as well as some sugars. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain Pla2T displayed the highest similarity (97.9%) to that of 'Paludisphaera soli' JC670T isolated from highland soil of the western Himalayas. With other members of the genus Paludisphaera, 'P. rhizosphaerae' JC665T and P. borealis PX4T, this similarity was 97.0 and 93.8%, respectively. The genome of strain Pla2T was 8.21 Mb in size and contained about 6500 protein-coding genes and 3 copies of the rRNA operon. The DNA G + C content was 67 mol %. The average nucleotide identity between the genome sequence of strain Pla2T and those of previously described members of the genus Paludisphaera was between 79.4 and 82.6%. This genotypic distance as well as several phenotypic differences allowed classifying the new planctomycete from a fen as representing a novel species of the genus Paludisphaera, Paludisphaera mucosa sp. nov. with the type strain Pla2T (=KCTC92668T = VKM B-3698T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterned rich fens have a diverse flora and are maintained by unidirectional inflowing water with high concentrations of base cations, along with high pH and limited nutrients. Rich fens are among the most threatened ecosystems in Europe, but are not uncommon across the western boreal forest zone of Canada. Utilizing 10 radiocarbon dated cores extracted from the wetland, we investigated the Holocene developmental history of a large patterned rich fen in northeastern Alberta (McClelland Wetland). Organic matter accumulation began around 11,457 cal yr BP as primary peat formation on recently deglaciated substrates. Over the 10,000+ years history of McClelland Wetland, the central portions of the wetland have been remarkably resistant to change, with little alteration in dominant species. The resistance to change is set against a background of fluctuations in regional Holocene climate and local varying water balance. The dominant bryophyte species (Hamatocaulis vernicosus and Scorpidium scorpioides) continued to play a foundational role on site for the duration of the Holocene, dependent on a persistent long-term ground water source. Accumulation rates of organic matter have remained steady once the dominant bryophyte layer was established, but with accumulation rates at paludifying marginal sites lower than those of the central moss-graminoid-dominated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and human activities may alter the structure and function of boreal peatlands by warming waters and changing their hydrology. Diatoms can be used to assess or track these changes. However, effective biomonitoring requires consistent, reliable identification. To address this need, this study developed a diatom voucher flora of species found across a boreal fen gradient (e.g., vegetation) in interior Alaskan peatlands. Composite diatom samples were collected bi-weekly from three peatland complexes over the 2017 summer. The morphological range of each taxon was imaged. The fens contained 184 taxa across 38 genera. Eunotia (45), Gomphonema (23), and Pinnularia (20) commonly occurred in each peatland. Tabellaria was common in the rich and moderate fen but sparse in the poor fen. Eunotia showed the opposite trend. Approximately 11% of species are potentially novel and 25% percent matched those at risk or declining in status on the diatom Red List (developed in Germany), highlighting the conservation value of boreal wetlands. This voucher flora expands knowledge of regional diatom biodiversity and provides updated, verifiable taxonomic information for inland Alaskan diatoms, building on Foged's 1981 treatment. This flora strengthens the potential to effectively track changes in boreal waterways sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen-dependent and methylotrophic order Methanomassiliicoccales consists of the families Methanomethylophilaceae and Methanomassiliicoccaceae. While Methanomethylophilaceae are comparatively well studied, there is a lack of knowledge on Methanomassiliicoccaceae. In this 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing-based study we investigated the temporal and spatial dynamics of the Methanomassiliicoccales in drained and rewetted sites of three common temperate fen peatlands. A 2.5-year monitoring of the fen microbiome composition at three peat depths revealed a dynamic methanogen and Methanomassiliicoccales composition across space and time. Four Methanomassiliicoccales phylotypes were found and they were differentially distributed between the fen types. The wetland cluster phylotype was omnipresent and dominant in abundance in all sites along all depths. The Methanomassiliicoccus phylotype was highly abundant in topsoil while the AB364942 phylotype was exclusively found in deeper regions of the rewetted percolation fen. The phylotype affiliated with Methanomassiliicoccales strain U3.2.1 was only detected in the rewetted percolation fen. We discuss the distribution of the four phylotypes with implications for their ecophysiology, where oxygen tolerance and substrate spectrum might play major roles. In conclusion, the Methanomassiliicoccales are widespread and account for a significant proportion of methanogens, which might suggest their importance for methane emissions from peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract European grasslands face strong declines in extent and quality. Many grassland types are priority habitats for national and European conservation strategies. Countrywide, high spatial resolution maps of their distribution are often lacking. Here, we modelled the spatial distribution of 20 permanent grassland habitats at the level of phytosociological alliances across Switzerland at 10x10 m resolution. First, we applied ensemble models to provide distribution maps of the individual habitat types, using training data from various sources. Copernicus Sentinel satellite imagery and variables describing climate, soil and topography were used as predictors. The performance of these models was assessed based on the true skill statistics with a split‐sampling of the data. Second, the individual maps were combined into countrywide maps of the most and second most likely habitat type, respectively, using an expert‐based weighting approach. The performance of the combined map for the most likely habitat type was assessed via an independent testing dataset and a comparison of the predicted habitat‐type proportions with extrapolations from field surveys. Most individual maps had useful to excellent predictive performance (TSS ≥ 0.6). For most grid cells in the combined maps, the most and second most likely habitat types were either ecologically closely related or representing two grassland types along a nutrient gradient. The same was true for omission errors. We found good agreement between the predicted and estimated proportions from field surveys. The area of raised bogs appears to be underestimated, while dry grasslands showed highest agreement. This work highlights the potential of earth observation data at fine spatial and temporal resolution to map habitats at broad scales, thereby providing the foundation for diverse conservation applications. A particular challenge remains in capturing the transition from nutrient‐poor to nutrient‐rich grasslands, which is highly important for biodiversity conservation.

In the scope of a global research on the "Allotetraploid Marsh-Orchids", this study concentrated on populations of critical taxa that are reported from the Grand Est region of France, namely D. devillersiorum, D. vosagiaca and D. parvimajalis. On the basis of morphometrical measurements and multivariate statistical analyses (discriminant analysis, cluster analysis), it is shown that those taxa correspond to well separable entities, with distinct ecological preferences. D. devillersiorum is typical of tufa fens of the Langres Plateau, but also inhabits alkaline marshes in the Jura and in the Cenozoic Paris Basin. D. vosagiaca can be found in acidic peat bogs in the North-East of the Grand Est, where it is extremely rare, as well as in the South-Palatinate (Germany). The populations of D. parvimajalis are confirmed in their localities from the High Vosges, in acidic peat bogs. Comments on the discriminant characters between the three entities are provided. A discussion is proposed on necessary protection measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the boreal forests of North America, large wildfires often leave residual patches of unburned vegetation, termed fire refugia, which can affect post‐fire ecosystem processes. Although topographic complexity is a major driver of fire refugia in mountainous terrain, refugia in boreal plains are more likely driven by a combination of other bottom‐up controls on fuel configuration as well as top‐down climate controls. In this study, we investigated the role of hydrological, ecological, and topographic heterogeneity, as well as climate moisture patterns, on the presence of fire refugia in forested upland and peatland ecosystems within Alberta's subhumid boreal forests over a 33‐year (1985–2018) period. Generalized linear models were used to model the probability of refugia in forested stands as a function of bottom‐up (vegetation, topography, site moisture, and ecosystem) and top‐down (normal and annual climate moisture deficit) controls. We then developed predictive maps of refugia probability for a range of normal and interannual climate moisture deficit values. We found that forested fens had a probability of refugia that was 64% higher than upland forests, while forested bogs did not differ from forested uplands in refugia likelihood. Climate and physical setting presented the strongest controls on fire refugia in uplands and peatlands, respectively. Increasing amounts of adjacent bogs, but not fens, produced a sixfold increase in refugia probability in uplands, while increasing amounts of adjacent bogs and fens produced roughly two times the refugia probability in forested peatlands. In these upland forest stands, fire refugia probability was negatively related to the interaction between regional climate moisture deficits and interannual deviations from these norms, thus increasing the probability of fire refugia during more severe drought conditions in areas with less arid climates, while decreasing refugia probabilities in drier climates. However, in peatlands themselves, neither regional climate moisture conditions nor the interannual deviations affected refugia. Fire size had a negative effect on fire refugia in all upland‐based models and a positive effect in all peatland‐based models. Our results suggest that large areas of intact peatlands may be capable of promoting fire refugia and thereby slowing climate‐driven, fire‐mediated vegetation transitions in surrounding forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change‐driven vegetation changes can alter the ecosystem functions of northern peatlands. Several case studies have documented fen‐to‐bog transition (FBT) over recent decades, which can have major implications, as increased bog growth would likely cause cooling feedback. However, studies beyond individual cases are missing to infer if a common trajectory or many alternatives of FBT are in progress. We explored plant community and hydrology patterns during FBT of 23 boreal aapa mire complexes in Finland. We focused on mires where comparisons of historical (1940–1970) and new (2017–2019) aerial photographs indicated an expansion of Sphagnum‐dominated zones. Vegetation plot and water chemistry data were collected from string‐flark fens, transition zones with indications of Sphagnum increase, and bog zones; thus, in a chronosequence with a decadal time span. We ask, is there a common trajectory or many alternatives of FBT in progress, and what are the main characteristics (species and traits) of transitional plant communities? We found a pattern of fen‐bog transitions via an increase in Sphagnum sect. Cuspidata (mainly S. majus and S. balticum), indicating a consistently high water table. Indicators only of transitional communities were scarce (Sphagnum lindbergii), but FBT had apparently facilitated shallow‐rooted aerenchymatous vascular plants, especially Scheuchzeria palustris. Water pH consistently reflected the chronosequence with averages of 4.2, 3.9, and 3.8, from fen to transition and bog zones. Due to weak minerotrophy of string‐flark fens, species richness increased towards bogs, but succession led to reduced beta diversity and homogenization among bog sites. Decadal chronosequence suggested a future fen‐bog transition through a wet phase, instead of a drying trend. Transitional poor‐fen vegetation was characterized by the abundance of Sphagnum lindbergii, S. majus, and Scheuchzeria palustris. Sphagnum mosses likely benefit from longer growing seasons and consistently wet and acidic conditions of aapa mires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient‐poor waters with small Utricularia species have been unknown in most of southern Europe and the Balkans. All the more notable are occurrences of Utricularia ochroleuca and Utricularia minor in north Greece. The records presented in this paper extend the known southeast European distribution boundaries of both species southward, and constitute U. ochroleuca a new species to Greece and southern Europe. U. ochroleuca was found in small peaty pools and seepage sites with base‐poor water within subalpine fens and headwaters, U. minor in very shallow base‐containing waters of spring brooks in upper montane ophiolite environments. The plant species composition of the Utricularia vegetation and its habitats are described. The pertinent vegetation types – Utricularietum ochroleucae and Scorpidio‐Utricularietum, respectively, as well as their higher‐ranking syntaxa – are new to Greece and the Balkans. The vegetation with U. ochroleuca forms part of the Annex I habitat type 3160 of the EU Habitats Directive, which is also new to Greece. Nature conservation status and management conditions of the detected plant communities and habitats with Utricularia in northern Greece are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2017, a reinforcement programme was developed to save the last, endangered, Belgian population of black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), in the High Fens Natural Park. To improve the success of this programme, an analysis of past data of this population was undertaken to understand the causes of its past decline. A time series analysis was applied, using annual spring male census data recorded between 1967 and 2016. In the period 1967–1993, there was a fluctuation around an equilibrium of a population of ca. 40–45 males. The peak of 85 males observed in 1971 was probably due to a succession of several favourable years in terms of environmental conditions, albeit without an exceptional annual growth rate. It seems that fox density, by using the occurrence of rabies as a proxy, has an impact on the black grouse population. After 1993, the population dynamic changed drastically, decreasing continuously until finally reaching quasi-extinction. On average, the population lost 15.4% of its size each year. Climate models, applied in previous studies to explain these population trends in the High Fens, failed to describe this major modification in this population's dynamic and its recent decline. We suggest that this negative effect was mainly induced by a significant increase in predation by red fox (Vulpes vulpes), whose abundance has increased considerably since the 1990s, in particular, as a consequence of the eradication of fox rabies. We also discuss alternative hypotheses, such as the impact of other predator species, modification of the natural environment and climatic modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article performs a site-specific and critical reading of agricultural labour in the Fen landscape in the East of England to explore lived experiences of class in this landscape. The analysis is based on fieldwork and archival research undertaken between 2017 and 2019. The article disrupts conventional division between migrant and domestic labour through employing the critical theoretical lens of the German Jewish cultural critic Walter Benjamin. The article traces previously obscured narratives of agricultural labour that glimmer in the dark light of the disruption of the distinction between migrant and domestic experiences. In doing so it follows lines of continuity and connectivity through the novel concept of the 'spectral labourer'. This concept is used to draw out the significance of tenuous and evolving chains of citizenship and state exclusion within the agricultural working classes in the Fen region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In a deluge of scientific literature, it is important to build scientific quantitative rules (SQR) that can be applied to researchers' quantitative data in order to produce a uniform format for making decisions regarding the nomination of outstanding researchers. Google Scholar and other search engines track scholars' papers, citations, etc. However, the scientific community hasn't agreed on standards a researcher must meet to be regarded as important. In this paper, we suggest rules for the scientific community based on the top five quantitative scientific parameters. The significance of the parameters is measured based on two factors: (i) parameters' impact on the model's performance while classifying awardees and non-awardees, and (ii) the number of award-winning researchers elevated in the ranking of researchers through each respective parameter. The experimental dataset includes information from researchers in the civil engineering, mathematics, and neuroscience domains. There are 250 awardees and 250 non-awardees from each field. The SQR for each discipline has attained an accuracy of 70% or more for their respective award-winning researchers. In addition to this, the top ranked parameters from each discipline have elevated more than 50% of the award-winning researchers into their respective ranked lists of the top 100 researchers. These findings can guide individual researchers to be on the list of prestigious scientists, and scientific societies can use the SQR to filter the list of researchers for subjective evaluation in order to reward prolific researchers in the domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient availability determines vegetation patterns and ecological functioning of intact groundwater‐fed peatlands (fens). Bryophytes, commonly referred to as 'brown mosses', dominate calcareous fens (rich fens), are an integral part of their unique biodiversity and contribute significantly to peat formation and carbon sequestration. Brown mosses are replaced by vascular plants as nutrient availability increases. The decline of brown mosses may either be due to their physiological intolerance of high nutrient levels or to them being outcompeted by vascular plants. We aimed to distinguish between these two hypotheses by investigating whether the ecological optima reflect the physiological optima of brown mosses. Eight brown moss species, common in calcareous fens of the northern hemisphere, were grown under a gradient of nitrogen and phosphorus availability. Biomass increment, chlorophyll content and biomass nutrient concentration were measured. All brown moss species studied achieved the highest growth rates and chlorophyll contents when grown under conditions of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations higher than those where they occur naturally at the highest frequency. Two of the species showed no growth saturation even at the highest levels of nutrient availability, while the others appeared potassium‐limited at the highest N and P levels. Brown mosses dominate natural fens at the lower edge of their physiological optimum in terms of nutrient availability, i.e. their realized niche is much narrower than the fundamental one. Based on the literature, we argue that it is the competition for light with vascular plants which limits the occurrence of brown mosses in nutrient‐rich habitats and prevents them from occupying their entire fundamental niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern vehicular networks support various services with variable Quality of Service (QoS) constraints. Two major classes of vehicular applications are identified, namely, safety and non safety services. The former are delay-sensitive while the latter depends mainly on throughput. However, many regions are suffering from a shortage of network resources while an increasing number of vehicle users need to be satisfied. Thus, the design of efficient allocation schemes of available resources is necessary. In this regard, one of the promising technologies is network slicing, a next-generation 5G perspective, that creates multiple logical networks on a common physical infrastructure. This paradigm enables efficient exploitation of shared physical infrastructure resources to meet the diverse needs of different use cases. In this paper we design a framework for a road-state-based and adaptive network slicing scheme for vehicular networks. The goal is to temporarily prioritize emergency traffic in incident situations while maintaining acceptable QoS for non-safety related sevices in a resource constrained environment. Our proposal adds to native slicing the ability to take into account road conditions besides of customer's specifications in terms of QoS. Moreover, our adaptive scheme makes it possible to judiciously exploit the available resources even if they are limited according to the rigor of the application. Software defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization and fog computing paradigms are the key enablers of our proposed solution. We implemented the proposed architecture based on the Mininet-Wifi emulator to create a vehicular network, the ONOS SDN controller, and the network slicing tool OpenVirteX. Experimental results prove that our suggested adaptive resource allocation scheme enhances the performance of the emergency services in terms of end-to-end delay while keeping acceptable throughput for non-safety traffic in stressed situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European grasslands face strong declines in extent and quality. Many grassland types are priority habitats for national and European conservation strategies. Countrywide, high spatial resolution maps of their distribution are often lacking. Here, we modelled the spatial distribution of 20 permanent grassland habitats at the level of phytosociological alliances across Switzerland at 10x10 m resolution. First, we applied ensemble models to provide distribution maps of the individual habitat types, using training data from various sources. Copernicus Sentinel satellite imagery and variables describing climate, soil and topography were used as predictors. The performance of these models was assessed based on the true skill statistics with a split‐sampling of the data. Second, the individual maps were combined into countrywide maps of the most and second most likely habitat type, respectively, using an expert‐based weighting approach. The performance of the combined map for the most likely habitat type was assessed via an independent testing dataset and a comparison of the predicted habitat‐type proportions with extrapolations from field surveys. Most individual maps had useful to excellent predictive performance (TSS ≥ 0.6). For most grid cells in the combined maps, the most and second most likely habitat types were either ecologically closely related or representing two grassland types along a nutrient gradient. The same was true for omission errors. We found good agreement between the predicted and estimated proportions from field surveys. The area of raised bogs appears to be underestimated, while dry grasslands showed highest agreement. This work highlights the potential of earth observation data at fine spatial and temporal resolution to map habitats at broad scales, thereby providing the foundation for diverse conservation applications. A particular challenge remains in capturing the transition from nutrient‐poor to nutrient‐rich grasslands, which is highly important for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological restoration is one of the most promising strategies to combat historical wetland losses caused by land use changes. Restored areas are ideal sites to study plant succession and changes in ecosystem functions over time. However, little is known about the influence of restoration on plant succession along environmental stress gradients. Knowing the processes and mechanisms driving the succession over time in contrasting abiotic conditions might provide new insight into the ultimate success of an ecological restoration.Relying on long‐term vegetation monitoring, we studied the community succession of 4 plant communities along a restored waterlogging gradient in North‐East Italy (from high to low soil saturation level): (i) Cladium fens, (ii) low alkaline fens, (iii) Molina wet meadows and (iv) dry meadows. We monitored 23 permanent plots distributed along the gradient, spanning from 1 to 21 years since restoration, and 4 plots as target vegetation (natural habitats). We analysed the changes in plant communities in terms of functional traits, diversity and species composition.We found that exotic and annual species decreased in mature stages of restoration while leaf dry matter content increased over time. Nutrient indicator value and leaf area showed opposite trends at the extreme points of the gradient. Across the successional stages, species richness decreased in Cladium fens and increased in alkaline fens and meadows. Species composition moved toward target vegetation showing contrasting dynamics between different restored habitats.Synthesis and applications. During succession waterlogging stress acts as main abiotic filter, triggering contrasting trajectories of plant communities. This filter seems to be stronger at the extreme points of the gradient generating opposite but faster dynamics than at intermediate conditions. Time and waterlogging promoted a continuous selection of species consistent to target vegetation in terms of richness, functional traits and composition. The evidenced trajectories suggest the need to develop habitat‐specific protocols concerning the selection of restoration site and subsequent management decisions, with particular regard to plant communities at intermediate ecological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland ecosystems are important habitats for the growth and survival of numerous terrestrial orchids in Europe. This study reviews the current knowledge on the orchids of wetland vegetation in the Central Balkans. The orchid flora was analyzed from taxonomic, phytogeographical, ecological and conservation aspects. The most important taxa include the two Balkan endemics (Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. bosniaca and D. kalopissi subsp. macedonica) and the three subendemics of the Balkans and the Carpathians (Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. cordigera, D. maculata subsp. transsilvanica and Gymnadenia frivaldii), as well as a considerable number of Central European, Eurasian and boreal orchid representatives. Several orchid taxa occurring in the wet meadows and fens of the Central Balkans have a southern limit of their distribution in this part of Europe, suggesting that wetlands are important refuges for them. In total, 33 orchid taxa were recorded in plant communities from five classes, 10 orders and 17 alliances. Most orchid taxa grow in the following wetland vegetation types: wet meadows (class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, order Molinietalia caeruleae, alliances Molinion caeruleae, Deschampsion cespitosae and Calthion palustris); fens (class Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae, order Caricetalia fuscae, alliance Caricion fuscae); tall-herb vegetation along mountain streams and springs (class Mulgedio-Aconitetea); marshes and herb-land vegetation of freshwater or brackish water bodies (class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea). This study highlights the importance of serpentine and silicate wetland vegetation types as important habitats for the survival of terrestrial orchids. In addition, detailed taxonomic, ecological and chorological studies of the wetland orchids of the Central Balkans need to be carried out in order to establish a successful plan for their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wet grasslands and fens are critically threatened habitats, firstly by abandonment or environmentally inappropriate farming, then possibly as a result of climate change by drying out in periods of lasting drought. To provide comprehensive information on the present species composition, ecology and conservation status of these biodiverse habitats and their plant communities in the Westphalian Süderbergland and as reference for future studies we explored which community types (associations and subunits) of wet grasslands and fens with Juncus filiformis and Eriophorum angustifolium occur in the study area, where and under which habitat and conservation conditions. It is the first study of its kind to examine wet meadow and fen communities regionwide for the entire Süderbergland. We collected 73 relevés, each with full vascular plant and bryophyte composition and mixed soil sample. We used Turboveg as database programme, Isopam as classification method, NMDS for ordination, and various statistics tools. Soil analyses included moisture, carbon and nitrogen contents, C/N ratio, CEC, pH and phosphate. Apart from soil characteristics we determined indicator values of plant species (groups) per relevé and community. We identified seven plant community types attributable to three associations. The Juncetum filiformis as an association of the Calthion palustris was found on extensively mown hay meadows chiefly around 400 m a.s.l. in the western part of the study region. The association comprised two variants distinguishable mainly by different species composition and nutrient levels. Wetlands with Eriophorum angustifolium differed from the Juncetum filiformis apart from species composition by higher soil moisture, geomorphological and soil conditions, and land-use. Two thirds of the relevés were identified as different variants of the Caricetum nigrae, distributed chiefly at headwaters between 450 and 650 m a.s.l. Subunits of the Caricetum nigrae differed mainly in nutrient levels and soil acidity. Disturbance levels indicated chiefly by various Molinietalia species played a role in determining the species richness and structure of the fen vegetation. Best-preserved fens of the Caricetum nigrae were comparably poor in vascular plant species, homogeneous in structure and rich in bryophytes. More different were acidic, pronouncedly nutrient-poor Eriophorum-rich peatmoss fens attributable to the Carici echinatae-Sphagnetum, an association of poor-fen vegetation which was recorded for the first time in the region. As a conclusion of our findings and those gathered from literature we make recommendations for conservation action regarding maintenance, restoration and connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of peat subsidence at Solec peatland (Poland) over 50 years was determined. The field values for subsidence and mineralization were compared with estimates using 20 equations. The subsidence values derived from equations and field measurements were compared to rank the equations. The equations that include a temporal factor (time) were used to forecast subsidence (for the 20, 30 and 40 years after 2016) assuming stable climate conditions and water regime. The annual rate of subsidence ranged from 0.08 to 2.2 cm year−1 (average 1.02 cm year −1). Equation proposed by Jurczuk produced the closest-matching figure (1.03 cm year−1). Applying the same equation to calculate future trends indicates that the rate of soil subsidence will slow down by about 20% to 0.82 cm year−1 in 2056. With the measured peat subsidence rate, the groundwater level (57–72 cm) was estimated and fed into equations to determine the contribution of chemical processes to the total size of subsidence. The applied equations produced identical results, attributing 46% of peat subsidence to chemical (organic matter mineralization) processes and 54%—to physical processes (shrinkage, organic matter consolidation). The belowground changes in soil in relation to groundwater level have been neglected lately, with GHGs emissions being the main focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]