Wetlands and Water Quality

Wetlands provide irreplaceable ecosystem services and are particularly important for water quality. Wetlands can act as nutrient sinks for common nutrients such as phosphorus. As water moves across the landscape, wetlands work to reduce direct surface water drainage into lakes and filter these nutrients out and store them. However, when wetlands are removed from the landscape, these areas may become a source of phosphorus and other contaminants resulting in lower water quality in lakes.  

In Alberta, many lakes in the southern parts of the province suffer from increased nutrient loading, resulting in blue-green algae blooms. Toxic blue-green algae can lead to a decline in dissolved oxygen and thus decrease habitat quality for fish and other aquatic wildlife. The removal of wetlands not only affects wildlife but can also decrease the effectiveness of water treatment facilities. Learn more about the importance of wetlands and nutrient filtering in a presentation by Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Tracy Scott here.

Report: Global Peatland Assessment

The Global Peatland Assessment (GPA), produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) aims to provide an improved understanding of the status of peatlands, how peatlands can be used as nature-based solutions, and what can be done to protect, restore, conserve, and sustainably manage these unique wetlands. Despite their importance, industrial activities can result in peatland drainage, making them more susceptible to environmental threats such as fire and permafrost thaw.  

A key recommendation of the report is for governments to invest in mapping the distribution of peatlands at a national level due to unsatisfactory peatland inventories at a global scale. The Global Peatland Map 2.0 project is highlighted and aims to identify the distribution of peatlands globally, highlighting areas in need of conservation and areas where potential peatlands may exist based on physical properties and remote sensing data. However, the map is based on remote sensing and does not currently include the presence of peat. The assessment emphasizes the importance of ground observations to support remotely sensed information. The GPA report also provides insight into the use of sustainable peatland management as a tool for slowing natural losses by acting as global carbon stores, wildlife habitats, and mitigating climate change effects. Read the full report here.

Impact of Climate Change on Sphagnum Moss Habitat

Sphagnum moss, a dominant species in peatland systems, plays a key role in peatland hydrological function and carbon sequestration. As a result, Sphagnum moss can be used as an indicator species to determine the extent to which peatlands are affected by climate change.  

To better understand how climate change might impact the geographical distribution of Sphagnum mosses, Ma et al. (2022) simulated different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. They find that as the severity of the climate scenarios increased, the geographical distribution of Sphagnum mosses shifted towards the north. Potential areas of concern included southern boreal peatlands where drier and warmer conditions may result in a transition from a carbon sink to carbon source. Further, Ma et al. find that in northern peatlands a rise in temperature, precipitation, and permafrost thaw would allow the mosses to thrive. However, Ma et al. identify that these shifts may accelerate the release of greenhouse gases and suppress non-Sphagnum plant growth, leading to a decline in peatland health. Learn more here.