Forest

FAR2

Taxonomy Machine Name
niacs_strategy_far2
Taxonomy Alias
far2

Pattered Peatland is moderate to highly vulnerable to climate change. Warming temperatures may cause peat drying and decomposition, increasing the risk of invasive species.

Submitted by dshannon on

Warmer temperatures may increase water losses, but potentially increasing groundwater recharge could offset higher rates of evaporation. However, if drying does occur, either due to natural losses or due to groundwater withdrawals, peat decomposition is possible, along with cascading increases in available nitrogen, increasing the risk of invasive species. Although some characteristic plant species appear to tolerate warmer temperatures, most have strict hydrologic requirements.

Open Bog is moderate to highly vulnerable to climate change. Decreased water levels resulting in drying may result in peat decomposition and increased nitrogen availability, that may shift composition to sedge meadow and invasive species.

Submitted by dshannon on

In large peatland basins with no inlets or outlets, the balance of precipitation to evaporation is crucial. Warmer temperatures may increase water losses, and unless precipitation also increases, eventual drying could occur, touching off peat decomposition and increases in available nitrogen, increasing the risk of invasive species or encroachment by sedge meadow species. Risk of catastrophic wildfire may increase, and fires that consume subsurface peat would be detrimental, though less severe fires could be a benefit. Impact could be lessened by several factors.

Northern Sedge Meadow is moderate to highly vulnerable to climate change. Potential changes in hydrology may have the greatest impacts, due to either consistently lower or higher water levels that may result in large shifts in species composition.

Submitted by dshannon on

Potential changes in hydrology are anticipated to have the greatest impacts to Northern Sedge Meadows, with either consistently lower or higher water levels leading to large changes in species composition. Exactly how precipitation, evaporation, groundwater infiltration, and other factors that influence water levels will change, however, is uncertain. On the positive side, many of the dominant plant species of Northern Sedge Meadows are widespread in Wisconsin, also occur well to the south and are adapted to fluctuating water levels.

Moist Sandy Meadows are highly vulnerable to climate change. Potential changes in groundwater and seepage lake levels could have severe consequences for these communities.

Submitted by dshannon on

Potential changes in groundwater and seepage lake levels could have severe consequences for these communities. Higher temperatures, longer growing seasons, and corresponding increases in evapotranspiration will result in more water leaving the system. This could be exacerbated by anthropogenic demand for groundwater resources. However, projected increases in annual precipitation may offset some of these losses. If water tables drop, tree and shrub invasion is likely along with conversion to non-wetland species.

Ephemeral Ponds are moderately to highly vulnerable to climate change related to higher evapotranspiration rates and longer dry spells that may dry ponds earlier and adversely impact species that require inundation for larval development.

Submitted by dshannon on

Ephemeral Ponds are often defined based on the amphibians and invertebrates that use them, especially those for which ponds are their primary breeding habitat. Warmer temperatures, higher evapotranspiration rates and longer dry spells could lead to some ponds drying up earlier, which could adversely impact species that require inundation for larval development. Extreme precipitation events could also adversely impact species as well as increase the risk of invasion by non-native plants like reed canary grass.

Emergent Marsh is highly vulnerable to climate change due to more frequent and intense storms that exacerbate sedimentation and nutrient enrichment and possible shift to non-native invasives such as narrow-leaved cat-tails.

Submitted by dshannon on

More frequent, higher intensity storms are likely to exacerbate sedimentation and nutrient enrichment. While a detriment to many species, cat-tail, and other marsh generalists may benefit from these disturbances. However, invasive species, including narrow-leaf and hybrid cat-tail, may also benefit, possibly shifting species dominance to non-native cat-tail. Potentially changing precipitation patterns could increase the variability of water level fluctuations, however, Emergent Marsh is highly adapted to, and even benefits from natural fluctuation.

Coastal Plain Marsh is highly vulnerable to climate change due to altered hydrology that lowers water levels and allows tree and shrub invasion.

Submitted by dshannon on

Potential changes in groundwater and seepage lake levels could have severe consequences for these communities. Higher temperatures, longer growing seasons, and corresponding increases in evapotranspiration will result in more water leaving the system. This could be exacerbated by anthropogenic demand for groundwater resources. However, projected increases in annual precipitation may offset some of these losses. If water tables drop, tree and shrub invasion is likely along with conversion to non-wetland species.

Central Poor Fen is highly vulnerable to climate change due to changes in hydrology, higher temperatures, longer growing seasons and related impacts to vegetation such as peat loss, tree and shrub invasion.

Submitted by dshannon on

Potential changes to hydrology could have adverse impacts on Central Poor Fen. Higher temperatures, longer growing seasons, and corresponding increases in evapotranspiration will result in more water leaving the system. This could be exacerbated by anthropogenic demand for groundwater resources in some areas. However, projected increases in annual precipitation may offset some of these losses. If water tables drop, peat loss and tree and shrub invasion is likely, as is the risk of damaging wildfire. Invasive species are also an increasingly problematic threat.

Calcareous Fen is highly vulnerable to climate change. Many sites are small and isolated with minimal opportunities for species to shift or migrate, giving fens high inherent vulnerability.

Submitted by dshannon on

Hydrologic regimes may change, although both an increase in groundwater recharge as well as decreases in ground water levels are possible. In general, shallow groundwater aquifers are expected to change more than deep aquifers. If groundwater levels and associated discharge and upwelling remain steady, sites with intact hydrology may be more resistant to change. Increased nutrient enrichment of groundwater is likely and could fuel an expansion of invasive species. Increased human demand for groundwater resources will also likely be an issue in some regions.

Boreal Rich Fen is highly vulnerable to climate change. Highly specific hydro-geologic requirements make it nearly impossible for Boreal Rich Fens to shift within larger peatland complexes or in the larger landscape.

Submitted by dshannon on

Potentially lower groundwater levels from increasing evaporation combined with groundwater withdrawals could reduce groundwater upwelling. However, some models suggest that hydrologic changes may be minimal with similar to slightly increased precipitation and higher groundwater recharge projected. In addition, sites fed by deep aquifers are expected to experience less hydrologic change. Nutrient enrichment through changing land use or groundwater pollution may be one of the greatest threats and could increase non-native invasive species.