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<p>Human activities such as peatlands drainage and global climate change have caused fluctuations in water table depth in subtropical mountainous <i>Sphagnum</i> peatlands of central China. However, the ecological impacts of these water table fluctuations remain unclear. This study conducted a 10-month microcosm experiment with three dominant plant communities collected from Dajiuhu peatland under eight water table treatments. The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of water table depth, and fluctuations thereof, on <i>Sphagnum palustre</i> growth and plant community succession, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. A stable water table above –10 cm proved optimal for <i>S. palustre</i>. Both fluctuating and sustained low water tables reduced its productivity by disrupting nutrient ratios (potassium excess) and impairing photosynthesis (oxidative stress). Community responses diverged: <i>Carex heterolepis</i> – <i>S. palustre</i> communities maintained stability except under –10 cm drawdown, which increased vascular plant richness; <i>Sanguisorba officinalis</i> – <i>S. palustre</i> communities showed enhanced productivity and diversity at +10&#xa0;cm water table rise but reduced richness and diversity under low (−20&#xa0;cm) and fluctuating (0 to −20&#xa0;cm) conditions; <i>Polytrichum commune</i> + <i>S. palustre</i> communities underwent succession reversal to <i>Polytrichum</i> dominance under (−10 to −&#xa0;30&#xa0;cm) and low (−&#xa0;30&#xa0;cm) water tables. Significant fluctuations in water table depth, particularly sustained drops or large-amplitude oscillations, can reduce <i>S. palustre</i> productivity and trigger a state shift in plant communities toward vascular plant invasion or desiccation-tolerant moss dominance, ultimately impacting plant community succession and ecological functions.</p>

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Effects of water table depth and fluctuations on Sphagnum palustre growth and plant community succession in subtropical mountainous Sphagnum peatlands: insights from a microcosm experiment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月17日

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  • Ting-Ting Li,
  • Man-Jing Tian,
  • Jie Xu,
  • Lun-Che Wang,
  • Bin-Luo Li,
  • Hui-Hui Sun,
  • Wen-Yi Yang,
  • Zheng-Xiang Wang

摘要

Human activities such as peatlands drainage and global climate change have caused fluctuations in water table depth in subtropical mountainous Sphagnum peatlands of central China. However, the ecological impacts of these water table fluctuations remain unclear. This study conducted a 10-month microcosm experiment with three dominant plant communities collected from Dajiuhu peatland under eight water table treatments. The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of water table depth, and fluctuations thereof, on Sphagnum palustre growth and plant community succession, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. A stable water table above –10 cm proved optimal for S. palustre. Both fluctuating and sustained low water tables reduced its productivity by disrupting nutrient ratios (potassium excess) and impairing photosynthesis (oxidative stress). Community responses diverged: Carex heterolepis – S. palustre communities maintained stability except under –10 cm drawdown, which increased vascular plant richness; Sanguisorba officinalis – S. palustre communities showed enhanced productivity and diversity at +10 cm water table rise but reduced richness and diversity under low (−20 cm) and fluctuating (0 to −20 cm) conditions; Polytrichum commune + S. palustre communities underwent succession reversal to Polytrichum dominance under (−10 to − 30 cm) and low (− 30 cm) water tables. Significant fluctuations in water table depth, particularly sustained drops or large-amplitude oscillations, can reduce S. palustre productivity and trigger a state shift in plant communities toward vascular plant invasion or desiccation-tolerant moss dominance, ultimately impacting plant community succession and ecological functions.