Environ Exp Biol (2016) 14: 97–106

The colonization history of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in pristine and drained raised bogs in Latvia

Abstract

In this study, we determined the spatio-temporal patterns of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) colonization in a drained and an undrained raised bog in Latvia, in relation to climate data and drainage history. The age of trees was estimated and mapped. In the drained mire, tree groups with age 20 to 60 years covered an extensive area, and the time of colonization corresponded to a period of low precipitation and bog drainage. In the undrained mire, the age of Scots pine was mostly 30 to 50 years and the peak colonization likely occurred when the ground water level was deeper in a period of low precipitation. Thus, the evidence suggests that drainage is not the only factor driving the development of Scots pine stands in bogs in Latvia. Our results show that the impacts of other factors, such as climate, should also be considered in ecosystem restoration and management plans.