%0 Research Notes
%T Changes in the ground vegetation of drained mires
%A Aapala, Kaisu
%A Kokko, Aira
%D 1988
%J Suo - Mires and peat
%V 39
%N 3
%U http://suo.fi/article/9641
%X The aim of this research was to study how some species of mire plants with differing ecological characteristics react to environmental changes caused by drainage. The data has been collected from 254 sample plots, each 1 km2 in area, in the southern and middle part (60-66°N) of Finland during the years 1984-1986. The occurrence of each species was studied both in virgin and in drained peatlands, and the note about mire type and drainage succession stage were recorded. For cloudberry (Rubus chamae-morus), the abundance of vegetation and berries were also indicated. There is a clear decline in the appearance of sedge plants as the succession, caused by ditching proceeds. Of herbs, Athyrium filix-femina and Cirsium palustre, become more common after drainage, but the flark level species, Drosera anglica and Lysimachia thyrsiflora disappear. As the drainage proceeds there is a clear decline in the vegetation and berry production of cloudberry. On the most effectively drained peatlands, more than half of the observations of cloudberry vegetation and all the observations of berry produce, indicated scanty growth and crop. The most abundant vegetation and yield of berries occurred in virgin peatlands.

Keywords: Drained mires, ground vegetation change, Rubus chamae-morus, succession