A classification of peatlands in eastern Newfoundland

The peatlands of eastern Newfoundland have been classified into six morphological types. The separation of types is based on peat depth, botanical constituents and degree of humification of the different peat strata, surface vegetation, and surface contours relative to the surrounding topography. --...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Wells, Edward Doyle
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1976
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research.library.mun.ca/7344/
https://research.library.mun.ca/7344/1/Wells_EdwardDoyle.pdf
https://research.library.mun.ca/7344/3/Wells_EdwardDoyle.pdf
Description
Summary:The peatlands of eastern Newfoundland have been classified into six morphological types. The separation of types is based on peat depth, botanical constituents and degree of humification of the different peat strata, surface vegetation, and surface contours relative to the surrounding topography. -- The following peatland types are described: -- 1. Raised Bog -- 2. Blanket Bog -- 3. Slope Bog -- 4. Basin Bog -- 5. Patterned Fen -- 6. Flat Fen -- The vegetation of these morphological peatland types has been classified into seven plant associations and four communities using the methods of the Zurich-Montpellier School of Phytosociology. These floristic units are listed below in their approximate order of minerotrophy: -- 1. Cladonio-Vaccinietum vitis-idaea - characteristic of dry health-like conditions on raised, blanket, slope and basin bog. -- 2. Kalmio-Sphagnetum fusci - characteristic of drier areas of raised, blanket, basin and slope bogs. -- 3. Calamagrostio-Sphagnetum fusci - represents the Sphagnum fuscum hummocks of fens. -- 4. Scirpo-Sphagnetum tenelli - represents the wet flats and hollows of raised, blanket, slope and basin bogs. -- 5. Scirpo-Sphagnetum subniti - this is the dominant vegetation type of slope bogs and occurs only on that morphological peatland type. -- 6. Betulo-Sphagnetum stricti - the dominant vegetation type of patterned fens and occurs only on that morphological peatland type. -- 7. Betulo-Thalictretum polygoni - represents the minerotrophic flat fens. -- 8. Nuphar variegatum Community - represents the deep, open pools of raised, blanket and basin bogs. -- 9. Sphagnum torreyanum Community - represents the shallow pools of raised, blanket and basin bogs. -- 10. Utricularia cornuta Community - represents the shallow mudflats of raised, blanket and basin bogs. -- 11. Drosera intermedia Community - represents the more nutrient-enriched pools of patterned and flat fens. -- Water samples from a bog pool, characterized by the Nuphar variegatum community, and from a fen pool within a ...