PAGES Poland

peatlands

There are many natural, peat-accumulating wetlands in Poland possessing records of past environmental changes. Peat archives contain information on past hydrology, climatology, vegetation and human impact. Many Polish peatlands have been drained and exploited in the past, but those that remain are now protected. Appropriate conservation of the mires is crucial for saving not only the modern ecosystems but also their valuable palaeoenvironmental record. Poland is influenced by both oceanic and continental climate and thus provides a climate signal of both these influences.



To fill the existing gap in knowledge about the palaeoenvironment of Polish peatlands, current efforts are focussing on high-resolution studies (at least decadal) with the use of many proxies (e.g., testate amoebae, pollen, diatoms and stable isotopes). Furthermore, dendroecological research has been applied to assess the climate of, and human impact on, mires. Current research aims to provide new, high-quality data about past climatic changes during the Holocene, with particular focus on the last millennium.



This research is also closely linked to ecological study on mire plant and microbial diversity and their relationship to physical and chemical parameters, as quantitative reconstructions are possible only with the use of modern analogues.

Palaeoenvironmental studies on Polish mires also have an important applied aspect; obtained data are expected to be used in peatlands' management and conservation strategies.


Mariusz Lamentowicz