TRANSPLANTATION EXPERIMENT TO STUDY THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUD-BOTTOMS

Abstract

Abstract. Mud-bottoms are formed in bogs after degeneration of Sphagnum mosses and vascular plants, their surface is formed by a dense algal mat. To control the hypothesis that factors causing the formation of mud-bottoms could be active in a restricted location during a relatively short period of time, a transplantation experiment was carried out in Männikjärve Bog, Central Estonia, in June 1997–October 2000. In 40 months the area of Sphagnum cuspidatum plots transplanted into the mud-bottom increased by 140–220% whereas the bare peat plots transplanted from mud-bottom into S. cuspidatum lawn overgrew almost entirely. The increase in the area of S. magellanicum plot transplanted into the mud-bottom from its other side was smaller (ca 80%), and the area of the bare peat plot transplanted into S. magellanicum lawn showed almost no change. Since the differences in the changes of plot areas could not be explained by ecological peculiarities of Sphagnum species involved, it was concluded that the factors causing the degeneration of sphagna and formation of mud-bottoms are of restricted distribution and short duration.