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This page shows questions in the Peatlands public release module at MSDE. Life Science MISA
"Peatlands"

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Peatlands

Peatlands cover about 3% of Earth's land surface and store a tremendous amount of carbon. Peat is partially decomposed plant matter. An acidic, water-saturated environment is required for peat to form. Water limits the amount of oxygen available to interact with dead plant matter. The lack of oxygen prevents the plant matter from completely breaking down. Thus, the rate of accumulation of plant matter becomes greater than the rate of decomposition. Over millions of years, the decomposed plant matter stores carbon as it builds up to form peat. A picture of peat and a peatland is shown.

The picture shows peatland. The label on the top left reads Peatland and points to a large land area with grasses. There is an area of water in between the land areas. The label on the top right reads Peat and points to a dark, compacted, layered material rising up from the water.

In some countries, peat is burned as an alternative source of energy for cooking, heating, and generating electricity. In order to harvest peat for energy, or use the land for crops, peatlands must be drained. The removal of peat removes some of the stored carbon.

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Wildfires

Carbon is also released from peatlands during wildfires. Cycles of wildfire and wildfire recovery have occurred in peatlands for thousands of years. Peatland wildfires burn plants above ground and some plant matter below ground. Sphagnum moss covers most peatlands but cannot survive if the peatland is drained. Recovery from wildfires helps balance the overall amount of carbon that is stored in peatlands.

Scientists measure how deep the fire penetrates into the layer of decomposing plant matter. This measurement is called the depth of burn. Scientists compared the effects of a wildfire on undrained and drained peatland in Canada. They recorded the depth of burn in both locations, as shown in the graph.

There is a graph titled Burned Peatland versus Drainage. The y-axis is labeled Average Depth of Burn in centimeters. It begins at zero and extends up to twenty in intervals of two. The bottom of the graph has two bars. The bar on the left is labeled Undrained Peatland and goes to seven. The bar on the right is labeled Drained Peatland and goes to nineteen.

Scientists used the depth of the burn to calculate and compare the amount of carbon lost in undrained and drained peatlands. The results are shown in the graph.

There is a graph titled Carbon Loss Due to a Wildfire. The y-axis is labeled Average Carbon Loss in kilograms per square meter. It begins at zero and extends up to twenty in intervals of two. The bottom of the graph has two bars. The bar on the left is labeled Undrained Peatland and goes to two. The bar on the right is labeled Drained Peatland and goes to seventeen.

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Recovery after Wildfires

Scientists studied how drainage of peatlands affected trees growing 10 years after a wildfire. On the undrained site, scientists observed some willow and birch trees that were too young to identify by species. On the drained site, scientists recorded seven species of mature willow trees and two species of mature birch trees. Scientists also measured the percentage of ground that was shaded by trees.

There is a graph titled Tree Leaf Cover Ten Years after a Wildfire. The y-axis is labeled Ground That is Shaded by Trees in percent. It begins at zero and extends up to fifty in intervals of five. The bottom of the graph has two bars. The bar on the left is labeled Undrained Peatland and goes to fifteen. The bar on the right is labeled Drained Peatland and goes to forty six.

Scientists also inventoried the plants growing on the ground in both undrained and drained sites. The graphs show the differences between the sites.

There are two circle graphs. The title is Groundcover Ten Years after a Wildfire. The key reads white is bare surface. Light gray is sphagnum moss. Medium gray is other mosses. Black is other small plants.The graph on the left is labeled Undrained Peatland. The graph on the left shows white thirteen percent; light gray, twelve percent, medium gray seventy-five percent.The graph on the right is labeled Drained Peatland. The graph on the right shows medium gray, ten percent; black, one percent, white, eighty-nine percent.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which statement best describes the role of sphagnum moss in maintaining peatland ecosystems?

  1. A.
    Sphagnum moss allows water to evaporate from the peatlands.
  2. B.
    Sphagnum moss helps peat decompose faster.
  3. C.
    Sphagnum moss decreases the amount of carbon stored in the peatland.
  4. D.
    Sphagnum moss helps minimize the damage to peatlands by wildfires.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which of these helps increase the biodiversity of organisms in peatland ecosystems 10 years after a wildfire?

  1. A.
    The presence of water in the peatlands.
  2. B.
    Humans draining the peatlands for fuel.
  3. C.
    The depth of burned peat.
  4. D.
    Wildfires adding carbon to the atmosphere.

This is a test question that allows you to enter extended text in your response.

Use evidence to explain the effects of draining a peatland on the ecosystem. Predict how these changes could affect global ecosystems if global temperatures continue to rise. Give specific examples to justify your prediction.

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