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Peatland distibution along a north-south transect in the Mackenzie River Basin in relation to climatic and environmental gradients

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Abstract

Climate is a major factor affecting the development and form of peatlands, as well as the distribution of individual bryophyte species. This paper examines the climatic and ecological gradients affecting the distribution of peatland types along a north-south gradient in the Mackenzie River Basin. Based on a TWINSPAN analysis of bryophyte abundance from 82 peatlands in the Mackenzie River Basin, seven peatland types, two with southerly geographical distributions are recognized. In the Mackenzie River Basin, such local factors as surface water chemistry, pH, and solute concentration as well as height above the water table play a significant role in determinining bryophyte species distributions. Climate is secondary. Amongst the climatic variables, precipitation, length of the growing season, and annual temperature are the most signifcant. The seven peatland groups are: widespread poor fens; peat plateaus with thermokarst pools, low-Boreal bogs; bogs and peat plateus without thermokarst pools; low-Boreal dry poor fens; wet moderate-rich fens; and wet extreme-rich fens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley St., P.O. Box 4010, 06050-4010, New Britain, CT, USA

    B. J. Nicholson

  2. Faculté Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, T6C 4G9, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    L. D. Gignac

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, T6G 2E1, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    S. E. Bayley

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  3. S. E. Bayley
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Nicholson, B.J., Gignac, L.D. & Bayley, S.E. Peatland distibution along a north-south transect in the Mackenzie River Basin in relation to climatic and environmental gradients. Vegetatio 126, 119–133 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045599

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