Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restoration
This article explores the hydrological constraints on the existence of forested peat domes (peat swamp forests) in the humid tropics, the self-regulation mechanisms that enable them to persist and the implications for restoration of damaged domes. The most important requirement for the preservation...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society
2010-10-01
|
| Series: | Mires and Peat |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mires-and-peat.net/map06/map_06_05.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797708310737059840 |
|---|---|
| author | R. Dommain J. Couwenberg H. Joosten |
| author_facet | R. Dommain J. Couwenberg H. Joosten |
| author_sort | R. Dommain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the hydrological constraints on the existence of forested peat domes (peat swamp forests) in the humid tropics, the self-regulation mechanisms that enable them to persist and the implications for restoration of damaged domes. The most important requirement for the preservation of peat is permanent saturation by water. The variable input of precipitation must be translated into a constant water supply to the peat mound. In intact tropical peat swamp domes, water is stored above the peat surface in depressions between hummocks that surround tree trunks and between spreading buttress roots. This above-ground water store is analogous to the water stored in the loose upper layer of peat and vegetation in Sphagnum bogs. The horizontal differentiation of the peat swamp forest floor into hummocks with limited hydraulic conductivity and depressions with high storage capacity resembles the hummock-hollow patterning of these Sphagnum bogs. Hummocks and other surface elements functionally resemble V-notch weirs that regulate water availability. Buttressed trees play a key role in providing the structural elements for hydrological self-regulation. An additional level of regulation is found in the concentric zonation of forest types with increased presence of buttressed trees on steeper margins. Conservation and restoration efforts should take into account the inter-relationships between trees, water and peat and the hydrological feedbacks that operate as a consequence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:20:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3198ad2386cf4a43ab82d9f210a18ffe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1819-754X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:20:36Z |
| publishDate | 2010-10-01 |
| publisher | International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mires and Peat |
| spelling | doaj.art-3198ad2386cf4a43ab82d9f210a18ffe2023-09-03T02:15:40ZengInternational Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland SocietyMires and Peat1819-754X2010-10-01605117Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restorationR. DommainJ. CouwenbergH. JoostenThis article explores the hydrological constraints on the existence of forested peat domes (peat swamp forests) in the humid tropics, the self-regulation mechanisms that enable them to persist and the implications for restoration of damaged domes. The most important requirement for the preservation of peat is permanent saturation by water. The variable input of precipitation must be translated into a constant water supply to the peat mound. In intact tropical peat swamp domes, water is stored above the peat surface in depressions between hummocks that surround tree trunks and between spreading buttress roots. This above-ground water store is analogous to the water stored in the loose upper layer of peat and vegetation in Sphagnum bogs. The horizontal differentiation of the peat swamp forest floor into hummocks with limited hydraulic conductivity and depressions with high storage capacity resembles the hummock-hollow patterning of these Sphagnum bogs. Hummocks and other surface elements functionally resemble V-notch weirs that regulate water availability. Buttressed trees play a key role in providing the structural elements for hydrological self-regulation. An additional level of regulation is found in the concentric zonation of forest types with increased presence of buttressed trees on steeper margins. Conservation and restoration efforts should take into account the inter-relationships between trees, water and peat and the hydrological feedbacks that operate as a consequence.http://www.mires-and-peat.net/map06/map_06_05.pdfbogbuttress rootsIndonesiapeatland hydrologypeatland restorationtropical peat swamp foresttropical trees |
| spellingShingle | R. Dommain J. Couwenberg H. Joosten Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restoration Mires and Peat bog buttress roots Indonesia peatland hydrology peatland restoration tropical peat swamp forest tropical trees |
| title | Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restoration |
| title_full | Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restoration |
| title_fullStr | Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restoration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restoration |
| title_short | Hydrological self-regulation of domed peatlands in south-east Asia and consequences for conservation and restoration |
| title_sort | hydrological self regulation of domed peatlands in south east asia and consequences for conservation and restoration |
| topic | bog buttress roots Indonesia peatland hydrology peatland restoration tropical peat swamp forest tropical trees |
| url | http://www.mires-and-peat.net/map06/map_06_05.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rdommain hydrologicalselfregulationofdomedpeatlandsinsoutheastasiaandconsequencesforconservationandrestoration AT jcouwenberg hydrologicalselfregulationofdomedpeatlandsinsoutheastasiaandconsequencesforconservationandrestoration AT hjoosten hydrologicalselfregulationofdomedpeatlandsinsoutheastasiaandconsequencesforconservationandrestoration |