Plant species composition and vegetation structure ofSphagnumcultivation sites

AbstractAimsThe cultivation ofSphagnummosses in paludiculture has high potential for the use of formerly drained peatlands under wet conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plant species composition and vegetation structure ofSphagnumcultivation sites in comparison with near‐natural donor sites and rewetted sites withoutSphagnumintroduction.LocationCentral Europe, northwest Germany close to the Dutch–German border.MethodsThe treatments (rewetting with and withoutSphagnumintroduction) and a near‐natural donor as a reference were each studied at three different sites. At each site, bryophyte and vascular plant species composition as well as parameters of vegetation structure were sampled in 40 randomly positioned plots of 25 cm × 25 cm.ResultsIn addition to the highly frequentSphagnum, several further plant species typical of bogs were introduced. At two cultivation sites, the species composition showed a high degree of similarity to the near‐natural donor sites, whereas the third site was more similar to the rewetted sites without the introduction ofSphagnumbiomass. Rewetted sites were species‐poor in comparison with all other sites. Apart from a high cover ofSphagnum, the vegetation structure at the cultivation sites differed significantly from the near‐natural donor sites.ConclusionsSphagnumcultivation sites can be used to grow donor material for peatland restoration and contribute to species conservation by providing substitute habitat for bog‐typical and threatened plant species.