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Boreal Peatland Ecosystems pp 313–329Cite as

Modeling Ecosystem Processes and Peat Accumulation in Boreal Peatlands

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Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 188))

14.7 Conclusions

Various models have been used to investigate processes and dynamics of peatlands. These models range from the simplest conceptual models that intend to understand the first-order trajectory of long-term peat accumulation (carbon sequestration) to the most elaborate ecosystem models that incorporate detailed processes responsible for production, decomposition, and gas fluxes in peatland ecosystems. Some models are modified from existing ecosystem models, while others are deliberately developed to study peatlands by considering their unique characteristics. The peat profiles are an integrated part of peatland ecosystems and make important contributions to heterotrophic respiration of the entire ecosystem, so their inclusion in any model is essential. On the other hand, some key ecosystem parameters, including species composition, production, nutrients, and decomposition, are important for making comparisons with the results from other types of ecosystems. Therefore, it appears that the challenge is to integrate processes that operate over very different time scales, which would be able to offer useful insight to understanding the ecosystem dynamics and to provide robust projections for possible future change.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, 31 Williams Drive, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA

    Zicheng Yu

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  1. Zicheng Yu
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085, USA

    R. Kelman Wieder

  2. Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901-6509, USA

    Dale H. Vitt

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Yu, Z. (2006). Modeling Ecosystem Processes and Peat Accumulation in Boreal Peatlands. In: Wieder, R.K., Vitt, D.H. (eds) Boreal Peatland Ecosystems. Ecological Studies, vol 188. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-31913-9_14

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