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Tropical peat surface oscillations are a function of peat condition at North Selangor peat swamp forest, Malaysia

Ledger, Martha J.; Evans, Chris D.; Large, David J.; Evers, Stephanie; Brown, Chloe; Jovani-Sancho, A. Jonay; Callaghan, Nathan; Vane, Christopher H.; Marshall, Chris; Baskaran, Abirami; Gan, Jing Ye; Sowter, Andrew; Morrison, Keith; Sjögersten, Sofie

Tropical peat surface oscillations are a function of peat condition at North Selangor peat swamp forest, Malaysia Thumbnail


Authors

Martha J. Ledger

Chris D. Evans

Stephanie Evers

Chloe Brown

A. Jonay Jovani-Sancho

Nathan Callaghan

Christopher H. Vane

Chris Marshall

Abirami Baskaran

Jing Ye Gan

Andrew Sowter

Keith Morrison



Abstract

Tropical peatland condition across southeast Asia is deteriorating as a result of conversion to agriculture and urban zones. Conversion begins by lowering the water table, which leads to peat decomposition, subsidence and increased risk of large-scale forest fires. Associated changes in mechanical peat properties impact the magnitude and timing of changes in peatland surface motion, making them a potential proxy for peatland condition. However, such a relationship is yet to be observed in a tropical peatland setting. This study aimed to establish whether patterns of tropical peatland surface motion were a function of peat condition at North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest in Selangor, Malaysia. Results showed that subsidence was greatest at fire-affected scrubland sites, whilst the lowest mean water table levels were found at smallholder oil palm sites. Peat condition and magnitude of tropical peat surface oscillation were significantly different between peat condition classes, whilst peat condition differed with depth. More degraded tropical peats with high bulk density throughout the peat profile due to high surface loading and low mean water table levels showed greater surface oscillation magnitudes. The dominant peat surface oscillation mechanisms present at all sites were compression and shrinkage from changes in water table level. Mean water table level and subsidence rate were related to surface oscillation magnitude. However further work towards measuring surface and within-water table range bulk densities and surface loading is required to better understand the controls on surface oscillation magnitudes.

Citation

Ledger, M. J., Evans, C. D., Large, D. J., Evers, S., Brown, C., Jovani-Sancho, A. J., Callaghan, N., Vane, C. H., Marshall, C., Baskaran, A., Gan, J. Y., Sowter, A., Morrison, K., & Sjögersten, S. (2023). Tropical peat surface oscillations are a function of peat condition at North Selangor peat swamp forest, Malaysia. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, Article 1182100. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1182100

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 31, 2023
Online Publication Date Aug 8, 2023
Publication Date Aug 8, 2023
Deposit Date Sep 21, 2023
Publicly Available Date Sep 22, 2023
Journal Frontiers in Environmental Science
Electronic ISSN 2296-665X
Publisher Frontiers Media
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 11
Article Number 1182100
DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1182100
Keywords Tropical peat, water table, peat condition, subsidence, hydraulic conductivity, volume change, surface oscillation, peat elasticity
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/24870005
Publisher URL https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1182100/full

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