Volume 23 Special Volume: The Flow Country Peatlands of Scotland (2018/19) Article 2

Knockfin Heights: a high-altitude Flow Country peatland showing extensive erosion of uncertain origin

by M.H. Hancock, B. England and N.R. Cowie

Published online: 25.10.2018

Summary

Peatland erosion has important implications for ecosystem services such as carbon storage and biodiversity conservation. The extensive blanket bogs of Scotland’s Flow Country include some of the least damaged peatlands in the UK; nevertheless, erosion features occur widely in the area. Here we describe a high-altitude (340–440 m) heavily eroded peatland at Knockfin Heights in the Flow Country. The causes of this erosion are poorly understood, and could include both human and natural factors. Restoration management has been considered for the site, although this might be unnecessary if spontaneous recovery is taking place. Our study aimed to contribute to understanding whether recovery was occurring, by (i) accurately and repeatably measuring bare peat extent using ground surveys, in 2005; and (ii) comparing the fullness of pools (strictly, pool area covered in standing water) using aerial photographs taken during 1946–2016. Estimated bare peat cover in the study area in 2005 was 10.5 % (95 % confidence limits 6.8–15). When placing a horizontal 1 m cane on the ground, bare peat was recorded under an average of 2.7 (2.2–3.2) 10 cm sections out of a possible maximum of ten per cane. Bare peat was most extensive on the flattest ground. Pools largely covered by standing water made up 30–60 % of pools in five pool groups, in five surveys during 1946–2005; but 75 % (standard error ~ 8) in 2016 - significantly higher than some earlier years. Active restoration management is merited for anthropogenic erosion but is more questionable for erosion that arose naturally or shows strong spontaneous recovery. We recommend follow-up studies during the next ten years to clarify the trajectories and causes of erosion at Knockfin; specifically, a repeat of this ground survey alongside remote sensing, experimental and palaeoecological work.

Citation

Hancock, M.H., England, B. & Cowie, N.R. (2018): Knockfin Heights: a high-altitude Flow Country peatland showing extensive erosion of uncertain origin. Mires and Peat, 23(02), 1-20. (Online: http://www.mires-and-peat.net/pages/volumes/map23/map2302.php); 10.19189/MaP.2018.OMB.334

Reviewers

IMCG and IPS acknowledge the work of the reviewers.