Terrestrializing fen vegetation in former turbaries in the Netherlands

Condition in the understory of aBetula-carr appeared to be favourable for the growth ofSphagnum recurvum. The estimates of annual productivity and nutrient accumulations forS. recurvum obtained in this wetland forest are in the high range of those reported for peatmosses. On an annual basis, the organic matter production, vegetative reproduction (forking), and accumulation of N, P and K were very much the same for a relatively dry and for a relatively wet year. Periodicity in growth and length increase of the plants, however, differed remarkably between these years, and fruiting was observed in the dry year only.S. recurvum was characterized by a distinct variation in nutrient concentrations both with time and with distance from the capitulum. Organic weight loss during breakdown ofS. recurvum in the wetland forest was low. Release of N, P and particularly K was larger than that of organic matter in decomposingS. recurvum. Nevertheless, a relatively large proportion of the original N and P stock remained associated with the peatmoss material after a 12 month decay period. Observations with the scanning electron microscope revealed that after a year the cells of deadS. recurvum were hardly damaged and only poorly colonized by microorganisms. The characteristics ofS. recurvum described here indicate its potency in directing succession in peatland forests.