Effect of flooding and draw‐down disturbance on germination from a seashore meadow seed bank

Abstract. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of flooding and draw‐down on the germination from the coastal grassland seed banks and to determine whether the effect of flooding varies between the delta and the seashore. Seed bank samples were collected from three shore transects in SW Finland, two on the shore of the Baltic Sea and one on the delta of River Kokemäenjoki. Samples were germinated in non‐flooded and flooded conditions for over a month, after which both treatments were maintained in non‐flooded conditions. A total of 9267 seedlings of 47 species germinated and mean density of seeds in the soil was ca. 84 000/m². Most of the seedlings were monocots (98%) and perennials (98%). Ca. 30–40% of the species found in the above‐ground vegetation had a seed bank including the majority of the most abundant species. The number of seeds and species richness increased as the organic layer became thicker. The organic layer was thicker in the seashore samples and the seed bank was significantly larger than in the delta. The flooding and draw‐down treatment significantly increased the number of germinating seedlings in the seashore and also increased species richness in two transects, one in the delta and the other in the seashore. Two species, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and Typha latifolia, had significantly higher germination in the flooded treatment than in the non‐flooded. Apparently, many species in these coastal grasslands have adapted to flood disturbance and for seeds of some species flooding may work as a positive signal, possibly breaking dormancy.     

Use of sheep grazing in the restoration of semi‐natural meadows in northern Finland

Abstract. The biodiversity of species‐rich semi‐natural meadows is declining across Europe due to ceased management. In this study we aimed to find out how successfully the local species richness of an overgrown semi‐natural mesic meadow could be restored by sheep grazing after a long period of abandonment. The cover of vascular plant species in grazed plots and ungrazed exclosures was studied for five years and the responses of different functional plant groups were followed (herbs vs grasses, tall vs short species, species differing in flowering time, species representing different Grime's CSR strategies and species indicative of rich vs poor soil). Grazing increased species number by nearly 30%. On grazed plots the litter cover practically disappeared, favouring small herbs such as Rhinanthus minor, Ranunculus acris, Trifolium pratense and the grass Agrostis capillaris. Grazing decreased the cover of the late flowering tall herb Epilobium angustifolium but had no effect on the abundance of the early flowering tall herbs Anthriscus sylvestris or Geranium sylvaticum. We suggest that to succeed in restoration it is useful to determine the responses of different functional plant groups to grazing. Grassland managers need this information to optimize the methods and timing of management used in restoration. Additional management practices, such as mowing, may be needed in mesic meadows to decrease the dominance of tall species. The availability of propagules seemed to restrict further increase of species richness in our study area.     

Regeneration by seeds in alpine meadow and heath vegetation in sub‐arctic Finland

Abstract. This paper compares the regeneration by seeds of heath and meadow and studies relationships between the floristic composition of phases in the regeneration pathway. Seed densities in the seed rain and seed bank as well as the densities of emerged seedlings in gaps and in closed vegetation were greater in the meadow than in the heath. In the heath, environmental constraints hindered seedling emergence almost completely so seeds accumulated in the seed bank. In the meadow, the decrease in the seed bank was due to high seedling emergence. Within both plant communities, seedling emergence in gaps and in closed vegetation was comparable. In the meadow, the seed rain and seedling emergence in gaps, as well as the seed bank and seedling emergence in gaps were positively correlated. Differences in seed and adult plant sizes were reasons for the low correlation between the standing vegetation and the other phases. In DCA ordination the first axis separated the phase of seedling emergence in closed vegetation and seed bank. The second axis separated the standing vegetation from the other phases. The structure of the seed rain was more heterogeneous than that of other phases. In the heath, the standing vegetation and the seed rain were positively correlated. The ordination of these phases reflected the patchiness of standing vegetation and the ability of the diaspores of Betula nana to disperse over long distances.     

Flowering and seed production success along roads with different mowing regimes

Question: Which one of the two mainly used mowing regimes along road verges, mowing once or twice a year is a better option regarding flowering and seed‐producing success of grassland species and plant species in general? Location: Southeast Finland. Methods: Plant species composition, flowering and seed production success were studied in road verges (1) mown once in August and (2) mown at the end of June and August. Flowering shoots were counted and phenological phases were estimated four times during a growing season. Results: The numbers of flowering or seed‐producing species and shoots indicated that mowing once a year corresponding to the timing of traditional management was markedly better than mowing twice a year. The difference between the management groups was greatest at the end of July when the number of flowering species was 43% and the number of flowering and seed‐producing shoots 76% less after the first mowing than in the still unmown sites. The species avoided early cutting either through the timing of flowering or due to their growth form. Early season mowing had no effect on the occurrence and seed‐producing success of grassland species and the first flowering species. Seed production of grasses succeeded poorly in the verges mown twice. Conclusion: Mowing once in August resulted in higher seed production in general, but mowing twice a season might be a better way to manage young verges on nutrient‐rich soils. The useful qualities of the management options should be considered locally when planning road verge management.     

Impact of rewetting on the vegetation of a cut‐away peatland

Abstract. We tested whether rewetting improved environmental conditions during peatland restoration and promoted colonization and development of mire vegetation. Vegetation change was monitored in a cut‐away peatland one year before, and four years after, rewetting. Colonizers before rewetting were perennials, mostly typical of hummocks or bare peat surfaces. The main variation in vegetation was related to variation in the amounts of major nutrients and water table level. The wettest site with the highest nutrient level had the highest total vegetation cover and diversity, as well as some species typical of wet minerotrophic mires. Raising the water table level above, or close to, the soil surface promoted development of wet minerotrophic vegetation. Diversity initially decreased because of the disappearance of hummock vegetation but started to recover in the third year. Eriophorum vaginatum and Carex rostrata were both favoured, and bryophytes typical of wet habitats colonized the site. Moderate rewetting promoted the development of Eriophorum vaginatum seedlings and an increase in the cover of tussocks. Bryophytes typical of disturbed peat surfaces spread. In the control site development continued slowly towards closed hummock vegetation. The study showed that raising the water level to, or above, soil surface promotes conditions wet enough for a rapid succession towards closed mire vegetation.     

Digitized photographs in vegetation analysis ‐ a comparison of cover estimates

Abstract. The use of digital images in measuring plant species cover and species number in boreal forest vegetation was studied. Plant cover was estimated by manual delineation on photographs and subsequent digitized measurement of the areas. This value was regarded as the reference and compared with cover obtained by visual estimate, point frequency and automatic image analysis methods. The automatic image analysis was based on scanned photographs. Supervised image classification with ERDAS software was then used to distinguish between the covers of different plant species. When comparing the ability of the methods to detect species, the visual estimate method gave values similar to the reference. The study material was collected from three sites along a heavy‐metal pollution transect in western Finland. All four methods detected, in a similar manner, differences between the plant species abundances along the transect. Compared with the reference, the digital images underestimated the cover of the lichens Cladina spp. and Cetraria islandica, but gave similar estimates for the dwarf shrubs Empetrum nigrum and Vaccinium vitis‐idaea. The point frequency method overestimated the cover of all the species studied. The visual estimates of lichens were close to the reference, while the dwarf shrub covers were overestimated. The number of species detected using supervised image analysis and the point frequency method was lower than that with visual estimation. Visual estimation was faster, and the estimate closer to the reference cover values than the others. Digital images may be useful in detecting changes in some selected species in vegetation with a simple vertical structure but with taller, multilayered vegetation and a higher species number, the reliability of the cover estimates is lower.     

Effects of reindeer grazing on understorey vegetation in dry Pinus sylvestris forests

Abstract. Data on floristic composition and environmental variables were collected in floristically homogeneous oligotrophic pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests with heath-like under- storey vegetation in eastern Fennoscandia, and ordinated by non-linear multidimensional scaling (NMDS) in order to study the effect of lichen grazing by reindeer on the understorey vegetation. The study sites included areas with varying grazing pressure, as well as 50-yr old grazing exclosures. Sites rich in respectively bryophytes and lichens were placed at opposite ends of the ordination axes, and heavily grazed sites were placed in between them. Reindeer grazing increased the abundance of bryophytes, especially Dicranum spp. and Pleurozium schreberi. Grazing changed the vegetation to the extent that it resembled more mesotrophic sites, but this did not show any relationship with tree volume or other site productivity indicators. This was observed both in the ordination and, in a more compelling way, when exclosures with adjacent grazed areas were compared. No such signs were evident at ungrazed sites, where especially Cladina spp. spatially replace Cladonia spp. and tiny bryophytes like Barbilophozia spp., Polytrichum spp. and Pohlia nutans during succession. Cladina stellaris had almost disappeared from the most intensively grazed sites. The soil at ungrazed sites was characterized by high Al and Fe concentrations and bryophyte-rich sites by high Mn concentrations. Shannon's diversity index, depth of humus layer and proportion of bare ground also increased in sites getting richer in bryophytes.     

A model of alpine species distribution in relation to snowmelt time and altitude

Abstract. The focus of this study is the response of species to time of snowmelt and altitude in alpine areas and an examination of changes in species response to snowmelt as altitude increases and temperature decreases. Transects (n= 43) were placed evenly along an altitudinal gradient at Finse, Hardanger‐vidda, western Norway, from ridges to late snowbeds. These gradients were systematically sampled (‘Repeated Gradient Analysis, RGA’) and an adjusted F‐test was used to determine repeated trends in species distribution along the transects. Of the 41 taxa analysed 22 showed a significant change in expected occurrence in response to time of snowmelt (when a site becomes free of snow) as altitude increased. Three types of response were observed: (1) no change in response: (2) increased occurrence as altitude increases, i.e. the taxon invades snow‐free sites as altitude increases, and (3) decreased occurrence as altitude increases, i.e. the taxon retreats from snow covered areas. It is suggested that the changes in response are due to both environmental factors (temperature related) and biological interactions. Decreases in expected occurrence are probably due to increased environmental severity as altitude increases (temperature related decreases). These species are represented by taxa preferring intermediate cover of snow. The invasion of earlier snow‐free sites is probably due to reduced competition from lee‐side taxa as altitude increases. A predictive model based on the species‐environmental relationships suggests that a 1°K temperature increase changes the limits of occurrence in response to time of snowmelt from 3 to 20 days for the different taxa.     

Long-term vegetation changes in stands of Pinus sylvestris in southern Finland

Abstract. Understorey vegetation dynamics in Pinus sylvestris L. stands were examined over 30 yr in southern Finland. Data were collected from 112 permanent sample plots twice, first in 1950–1956 and again in 1983 - 1986. Between the two surveys 52 stands were clear-felled and in the 60 remaining old stands thinnings of various magnitude were conducted. In the mature, thinned stands species presence remained virtually unchanged. With the exception of a few species, including Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Hylocomium splendens, and Dicranum polysetum, the changes in species cover were also slight. In the clear-felled plots the changes in species presence were minor but the cover of many species changed strongly. The average cover of Vaccinium myrtillus and Hylocomium splendens dropped to near zero and that of Vaccinium vitisidaea and Pleurozium schreberi decreased 2 - 4 times on all sites. The cover of Calluna vulgaris approximately doubled, and Cladina rangiferina and Cladina arbuscula also increased after canopy removal. In addition to intrinsic successional change, a special interest in this study was to investigate vegetation dynamics in relation to forest land classification methods in which understorey vegetation is used as part of the classification criteria. The results support the Cajanderian site classification approach, in the case of boreal Scots pine stands, that sites can be classified on the basis of understorey vegetation at different successional phases. However, because of the strong successional and site-to-site variation in species cover, it is suggested that site classification be based primarily on species presence     

Seedling establishment in relation to microhabitat variation in a windthrow gap in a boreal Pinus sylvestris forest

Abstract. The characteristics of microhabitats of established Pinus sylvestris and Betula seedlings were studied in a small windthrow gap in a mature P. sylvestris-dominated forest in the Petkeljärvi National Park in eastern Finland. Seedlings were strongly clustered in disturbed microhabitats, particularly uprooting pits and mounds, formed by tree falls. They covered 3% of the 0.3.ha study area consisting of the gap and some of the forest edge. Although Betula occurred only as scattered individuals in the dominant canopy layer of the forest, it accounted for 30% of the seedlings found in the study area. Betula regeneration was almost completely restricted to pits and mounds, where 91% of the seedlings were found. Uprooting spots were also the most important regeneration microhabitats for Pinus, where 60% of the seedlings grew, even though the seedlings were found in other substrates as well, particularly on sufficiently decomposed coarse wood. Undisturbed field- and bottom-layer vegetation had effectively hindered tree seedling establishment, which emphasises the role of soil disturbance for regeneration. While the establishment of seedlings was found to be clearly determined by the availability of favourable regeneration microhabitats, the early growth of seedlings was affected by a complex interaction of environmental variables, including the type of microhabitat, radiation environment and interferences caused by competing seedlings and adjacent trees. In the most important regeneration microhabitats, i.e. in uprooting pits and on mounds, the distributions of the local elevations of Pinus and Betula seedlings were different. Pinus seedlings occurred closer to ground level, i.e. on the fringes of pits and lower on mounds, while Betula seedlings grew deeper in pits and higher on mounds. The position of the Betula seedlings indicate that they may have a competitive advantage over Pinus seedlings in the dense seedling groups occurring in uprooting spots. We suggest that this initial difference in Pinus and Betula establishment may affect the subsequent within-gap tree species succession and can, in part, explain the general occurrence of Betula in conifer-dominated boreal forests.     

Plant communities and landscape diversity along a Canadian Arctic river

Abstract. We analysed the structure and diversity of the vegetation along an Arctic river to determine the relationship between species richness and plant community structure. We examined whether variation in species richness along the corridor is structured as (1) an increase in the number of communities due to increasing landscape heterogeneity, (2) an increase in the floristic distinctiveness (β-diversity) of communities, or (3) an increase in within-community richness (α-diversity) as species-poor communities are replaced by species-rich communities. We described 24 community types and analysed the relationship between site vascular species richness (γ-diversity) and β-diversity, α-diversity, site environmental heterogeneity, and the number of distinct plant communities. We also measured diversity patterns of vascular, bryophyte, and lichen species within communities and examined their relationship to community-level estimates of environmental factors. We found that an increase in site species richness correlated with an increase in the number of communities (r²= 0.323, P= 0.0173) and β-diversity (r²= 0.388, P= 0.0075), rather than an increase in the α-diversity of individual communities. Moisture and pH controlled most of the differences in composition between communities. Measures of species richness and correlations with moisture and pH within communities differed among vascular, bryophyte, and lichen species. Bryophyte richness was positively correlated with moisture (r²= 0.862, P= 0.0010) and lichen richness was negatively correlated with moisture (r²= 0.809, P= 0.0031). Vascular plants had a peak in richness at pH 6.5 (r²= 0.214, P < 0.0001). We conclude that site variation in vascular richness in this region is controlled by landscape heterogeneity, and structured as variation in the number and distinctiveness of recognizable plant communities.     

Hydrology of Dutch Cirsio‐Molinietum meadows: Prospects for restoration

Abstract. Fen meadows (Cirsio dissecti‐Molinietum) are seriously threatened by desiccation, acidification and eutro‐phication. In The Netherlands several projects were launched to restore damaged fen meadows. This review describes how successes and failures of these restoration projects depend on hydrological systems. Six hydrological systems have been distinguished, which all provide the site conditions required by this community. Nowadays, the best developed fen meadows are found in the higher Pleistocene landscape of The Netherlands, where they depend on base‐rich groundwater discharging from local or large groundwater systems. Fen meadows of the lower Holocene landscape usually occur in man‐made surface water systems. Almost all stands have been severely deteriorated. Restoration of fen meadows in the Pleistocene landscape is promising when the hydrology is only slightly disturbed or when hydrological measures are taken in combination with sod cutting. Restoration prospects of fen meadows in the Holocene landscape are low. Until now a complete regeneration of Cirsio‐Molinietum meadows has not been realized. Restoration measures failed to restore high pH values in the top soil. It is hypothesized that viable seeds of many target species lack in the soil seed bank. In addition, the dispersal capacities of these species seem to be limited.     

Vegetation succession in lakes of West Connemara,Ireland: comparing predicted and actual changes

Abstract. Changes in the vegetation of lakes and wetlands were investigated over a period of 18 years. It was assumed that changes in vegetation were related to changes in agricultural land use resulting in increased phosphate levels in surface waters. Data were collected in 1975, 1988 and 1993. Multivariate techniques were used to relate changes in vegetation to changes in environmental factors. With the use of a Markovian chain model, vegetation development was projected into the future. Projections based on vegetation dynamics between 1975 and 1988 were compared with actual changes in the vegetation. The vegetation dynamics appeared stable on a regional scale but quite dynamic on a local scale. A continuous decline in species diversity was noted as well as an overall increase of phosphate level. However, only minor changes in vegetation could be attributed to this increase of phosphate. Major changes were a result of fluctuations in water level. These changes coincide with periods of drier and wetter climate. Because of the fluctuating nature of these changes, predicted vegetation change did deviate from the observed change.     

Dynamics of understory vegetation in an old-growth boreal coniferous forest, 1988–1993

Abstract. Understorey vegetation changes in a South Norwegian old-growth coniferous forest were studied between 1988 and 1993 in 200 1-m² vegetation plots. Our aims were to quantify the amount of between-year compositional change, and to elaborate the environmental basis for long-term vegetation change, including the previously identified gradient structure with a major gradient related to topography (and soil nutrient status and soil depth) and a minor gradient reflecting paludification and canopy coverage. Species richness (yearly mean and cumulative species number) and change in species richness differed between vascular plants and cryptogams, and between forest types. The number of vascular plant species decreased in pine forest in dry years; bryophyte species number increased in spruce forest. Statistically significant vegetation change, as tested by constrained ordination (CCA) with time as the constraining variable, is demonstrated for most one-year periods and for the five-year period in most forest types. Vegetation change along identified gradients, measured as plot displacement along DCA ordination axes, also occurred. The magnitude of year-to-year vegetation change was related neither to forest type nor to one-year period; different responses to climatic and environmental change were observed in each forest type. The largest average displacement observed, from medium-rich spruce forest towards poor spruce forest, was interpreted as a long-term trend. Humus-layer pH decreased by ca. 0.25 units from 1988 to 1993, most strongly in medium-rich spruce forest where exchangeable Ca decreased and Al and Mn increased strongly. Our study supports the hypothesis that vascular plants show a long-term and broad-scale response to soil acidification. Change in bryophyte composition is linked to some very long growing-seasons. Detailed analysis of short-term vegetation dynamics enhances the interpretation of long-term changes and stresses the complementarity of univariate and multivariate methods in the analysis of vegetation change.     

Fen‐meadow succession in relation to spatial and temporal differences in hydrological and soil conditions

Question: In fen meadows with Junco‐Molinion plant communities, falling groundwater levels may not lead to a boosted above‐ground biomass production if limitation of nutrients persists. Instead, depending on drainage intensity and micro‐topography, acidification may trigger a shift into drier and more nutrient‐poor plant communities. Location: Nature reserve, central Netherlands, 5 m a.s.l. Methods: Long‐term study (1988‐1997) in a fen meadow along a gradient in drainage intensity at different scales. Results: Above‐ground biomass increased only slightly over ten years, despite a lower summer groundwater table. The accountable factors were probably a limited availability of nutrients (K in the higher well‐drained plots, P in the intermediate plots and N in the lower hardly drained plots), plus removal of hay. Junco‐Molinion species increased in dry sites and Parvo‐caricetea species increased in wet sites, presumably primarily because of soil acidification occurring when rainwater becomes more influential than base‐rich groundwater. The extent of the shift in species composition depends primarily on the drainage intensity and secondarily on microtopography. Local hydrological measures have largely failed to restore wetter and more basic‐rich conditions. Conclusions: Acidification and nutrient removal, leaching and immobilization resulted in the succession towards Junco‐Molinion at the cost of Calthion palustris elements. Lower in the gradient this change was reduced by the presence of buffered groundwater in slightly drained sites. To conserve the typical plant communities of the Junco‐Molinion to Calthion gradient in the long term, further acidification must be prevented, for example by inundation with base‐rich surface water.     

Large‐scale changes in abundance of terricolous bryophytes and macrolichens in Finland

Abstract. Major changes in forest floor vegetation were identified on the basis of three nationwide surveys conducted as part of national forest inventories in 1951–1953, 1985–1986 and 1995. These surveys provided objectively selected, statistically representative samples of all forested land in Finland. The 1951–1953 data consist of over 10000 sample plots, while the later surveys were conducted on ca. 3000 permanent plots. Changes in relative abundance of dominant species (i.e. in the proportions of species of the total cover of forest floor vegetation) were analysed across biogeographical provinces. Spatial correlation, systematic sampling, partial re‐measurement and multiple testing were taken into account in assessment of the statistical significance of the observed changes. The most notable changes in forest floor vegetation were a decrease in the relative abundance of Hylocomium splendens and an increase in Dicranum polysetum. In N Finland, where forests are grazed by semi‐domestic reindeer, we observed a decline in the abundance of Cladina lichens and an increase in Dicranum mosses. Peltigera aphthosa declined throughout the country. Polytrichum juniperinum, Pohlia nutans, and Brachythecium species, which occupy disturbed sites or grow on litter, increased in abundance. The relative abundance of Sphagnum species decreased, particularly in W Finland, where Pleurozium schreberi was favoured. A major decline in S. fuscum was also recorded in C and E Finland. Many of the changes detected in this study are apparently related to intensified forest management; but solely on the basis of this study, its effects cannot be distinguished from those of other large‐scale environmental changes.     

Patterned fens in Scotland: evidence from vegetation and water chemistry

Mires with attributes similar to the patterned fens of boreal continental regions have recently been reported from northern Scotland. This paper reports on the vegetation and water chemistry of 18 of these sites. Most of the 18 mires displayed remarkable uniformity in their vegetation, with Carex lasiocarpa being a main character species. Major variation of plant communities is associated with microtopographical niches, similar to those found on ombrotrophic mire systems and secondarily with pH and conductivity of surface waters. Nine vegetation noda are described and compared with existing phytosociological associations and National Vegetation Classification (NVC) communities. The dominant Sphagnum - Carex communities are intermediate between the Oxycocco-Sphagnetea and the Caricion lasiocarpae and are thus difficult to assign to existing associations or to NVC communities. Although there is a large variation in pH of surface waters (3.9–6.6), mean measurements for terrestrial and aquatic communities are 5.12 and 5.51 respectively. pH levels are comparable with poor fen systems elsewhere in Britain and slightly higher than patterned fens in continental regions of Europe and North America. The vegeta-tional and chemical attributes of these sites therefore confirm the existence of true patterned fen systems in the British Isles.     

Conservation of bog plant species assemblages: Assessing the role of natural remnants in mined sites

Abstract. Bogs, economically valuable wetlands, are subjected to exploitation in southern Canada. We addressed plant conservation within bogs mined for peat, in which small undisturbed remnants are left, mostly at the margins of the mined areas. The main goal of the study was to test whether these remnants act as refuges for plants which could recolonize areas that are planned for restoration after mining is completed. Mosses, lichens and vascular plants were sampled in remnants of 24 mined bogs in southeastern Canada during the summer of 1997. The vegetation was also sampled at the margins and centres of 24 nearby natural bogs in plots similar in size to these remnants. Using similarity analysis and ordination techniques, we found that plant species assemblages in remnants of mined bogs differ from those near the margins of natural bogs, and that certain species are associated with the centre of natural bogs, due to the presence of pools. We also showed that water conditions of remnants are affected by drainage due to peat mining. Sphagnum moss showed itself to be a key indicator of mining effects on vegetation. Implications for peat resource management and bog conservation are discussed.     

Species diversity,niche metrics and species associations in harvested and undisturbed bogs

Abstract. Competition is considered an important force in structuring plant communities and in governing niche relations, but communities recovering from disturbance, may be less governed by species interactions and less orderly organized. To address this issue, we studied species richness, abundance and patterns of association between plant species at three spatial scales (1 m², 1/25 m², 1/625 m²) in two ombrotrophic mires in east-central Sweden. One was at a secondary successional stage following peat extraction 50 yr ago and the other was undisturbed. Peat extraction leads to a change in hydrology which is slowly restored by the formation of new peat. Niche breadth and niche overlap along the gradient of height above the water table were calculated for the five common Sphagnum species occurring at both mires in an attempt to better understand differences in species co-occurrence at each mire. Species cover differed between the mires, and the number of species per plot was higher in the undisturbed community at all scales, suggesting that the degree of species intermingling was greater than at the harvested site. At all scales, the number of non-random associations was higher, and niche overlap lower among ecologically similar species (e.g. hollow Sphagnum species) in the undisturbed mire. These differences indicate that random events are important in colonization, and that biotic interactions between neighbours later result in a higher degree of non-randomness. In addition, we surveyed a number of abandoned peat pit sites to test the effect of disturbance for species composition at a regional scale. Ombrotrophic peat pits contained several Sphagnum species normally associated with minerotrophic mires, and species of wooded mires occurred frequently in peat pits, making them more species-rich than undisturbed bogs. There were also Sphagnum species new to, or rare in, this part of Sweden which indicates effective long-distance dispersal. Even 50 yr after peat extraction had ceased, the vegetation had not recovered to its original composition.