REN R441 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Ombrotrophic, Histosol, Terrestrial Ecosystem

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Renewable Resources
• Course: REN R441
• Professor: Miles Dyck

Document Summary

Terrestrialization: open body of water (shallow lake) gets filled by vegetation: was an aquatic ecosystem, now turning into a terrestrial ecosystem, however, peat is 90% water; the water isn"t going anywhere it"s just filled. Paludification: peatland takes over countryside: peat deposits slowly takes over the landscape, swallows up everything, organic soils are called histosols in canada. Everywhere especially in the northern hemisphere: cool and humid places are good for accumulation of organic matter, ~5% of earth"s total land area. Natural acidification: accumulation of organic matter: ph of bog water is acidic. Wetland dynamics and genesis: beavers catalyse the development of shallow wetlands when they build dams, fine detrital (algal) Bogs: ombrotrophic: atmospheric inputs, peat low in mineral matter (1-2%, dominated by spahgnum moss, waters are: oligotrophic (nutrient poor, organic rich, acidic, anoxic. Fen: minerotrophic: atmospheric + aquatic inputs, peat has moderate concentrations of mineral matter (5-10%, waters are: mesotrophic to eutrophic, organic rich, neutral to alkaline, oxygenated surface waters.