Effect of disturbance on the vegetation of peat bogs with Pinus rotundata in the Třeboň Basin, Czech Republic.

Marek Bastl 1 , Táňa Štechová 1 & Karel Prach 1 2

Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
  2. Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dukelská 135, CZ-379 82 Třeboň, Czech Republic
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Abstract

Various stages in the succession of vegetation of peat bogs following disturbance were studied in the Třeboň Basin, Czech Republic. The disturbance was of two types: (a) natural, represented by windthrow, with subsequent bark beetle attack, and fire, and (b) human-made peat digging and industrial peat milling. The species composition at different stages in succession following disturbance were compared with that in undisturbed plots. Regeneration of peat bog vegetation was faster after a natural than after human-made disturbance. The lowest impact was caused by windthrow, followed by fire. Regeneration after peat digging took much longer. Regeneration after industrial peat harvesting only occurred if the groundwater table level remained high.

Keywords

bark beetle, bog pine, bryophytes, fire, peat harvesting, regeneration, species composition, succession, vascular plants, windthrow

How to cite

Bastl M., Štechová T. & Prach K. (2009) Effect of disturbance on the vegetation of peat bogs with Pinus rotundata in the Třeboň Basin, Czech Republic. – Preslia 81: 105–117