Vulnerability indicators for clusters and individual bogs The development of vulnerability indicators presented (Table 3) has focused on the recognised critical components and processes of bogs that are assessable and meaningful at the bog and cluster scale. Table Vulnerability indicators of critical components and processes for clusters and individual bogs characterising bogs that are the most, moderate and least vulnerable to impacts. Degree of Substrate/peat status Organic matter processes and holding capacity / Moisture status Vegetation vulnerability dynamics water table to impacts Most Wasted or lost peat with no Little organic matter incorporated Water table fluctuates Evidence of Little or no presence of key true organic matter into alpine humus soils within mineral soils or is desiccation on bog species such as peat (either acrotelm and/or constrained by ditches and within bog; forming Sphagnum, rushes catotelm) and drains evidence of and sedges. Depauperate ‘dryland’ plant species invasion of other species. Typical Reduced acrotelm but Plant litter may degrade at surface Water table fluctuates Some desiccation at Reduced presence of key intact Catotelm and/or not enter system as peat within both acrotelm and bog edges and some species such as peat catotelm dry pools and/or dry forming Sphagnum, rushes Some evidence of peat Little new organic matter water channels and sedges. Other species oxidation and subsequent incorporated in waterlogged layers Deeper peat may dry reduced. erosion periodically in drought conditions Degree of Substrate/peat status Organic matter processes and holding capacity / Moisture status Vegetation vulnerability dynamics water table to impacts
Vulnerability indicators for clusters and individual bogs The development of vulnerability indicators presented (Table 3) has focused on the recognised critical components and processes of bogs that are assessable and meaningful at the bog and cluster scale. Table Vulnerability indicators of critical components and processes for clusters and individual bogs characterising bogs that are the most, moderate and least vulnerable to impacts. Degree of vulnerability to impacts Substrate/peat status Organic matter processes and dynamics holding capacity / water table Moisture status Vegetation Most Wasted or lost peat with no true organic matter (either acrotelm and/or catotelm) Little organic matter incorporated into alpine humus soils Water table fluctuates within mineral soils or is constrained by ditches and drains Evidence of desiccation on bog and within bog; evidence of ‘dryland’ plant species invasion Little or no presence of key species such as peat forming Sphagnum, rushes and sedges. Depauperate of other species. Typical Reduced acrotelm but intact Catotelm Some evidence of peat oxidation and subsequent erosion Plant litter may degrade at surface and/or not enter system as peat Little new organic matter incorporated in waterlogged layers Water table fluctuates within both acrotelm and catotelm Deeper peat may dry periodically in drought conditions Some desiccation at bog edges and some dry pools and/or dry water channels Reduced presence of key species such as peat forming Sphagnum, rushes and sedges. Other species reduced. Degree of vulnerability to impacts Substrate/peat status Organic matter processes and dynamics holding capacity / water table Moisture status Vegetation
nerp-aligning-protocols-for-assessing-the-status-of-alpine-sphagnum-bogs-and-associated-fens-of-the-australian-alps.docx