Fires in Raised Bog: Their Influence and Changes to Geochemical Elements in Peat Layers

Vaidotas Valskys (), Gintautas Kibirkštis, Julius Taminskas, Alius Ulevičius and Gytautas Ignatavičius
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Vaidotas Valskys: Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
Gintautas Kibirkštis: Nature Research Centre, Laboratory of Climate and Water Research, Akademijos Street 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Julius Taminskas: Nature Research Centre, Laboratory of Climate and Water Research, Akademijos Street 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Alius Ulevičius: Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
Gytautas Ignatavičius: Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Fires in forested raised bogs occur both as a result of natural processes and as a result of human activity. Although there is a generally accepted opinion that their impact on ecosystems is significant, there is still a lack of scientifically reliable research on how individual components of damaged ecosystems change and recover under the influence of fires. The purpose of our study was to assess whether and how these fires affect the chemical composition of the peat layers. This study is based on a geochemical analysis of surface peat layers in areas after a controlled fire and in adjacent areas which were untouched by the fire in a raised bog of Čepkeliai. This study showed a low concentration of potentially toxic elements in the peat layers. In this respect, it is clear that there is no risk of environmental contamination in this natural raised bog. Furthermore, the research revealed other important insights on the combination of potentially toxic elements that can be used as a tracer for the identification of fire events that occurred in the past. Multiple analyses on various combinations of potentially toxic elements revealed the optimal combination (Cu-Zr-Pb-Se-Fe) for distinguishing between the burnt and non-burnt areas. Based on the results of our research, it can be stated that the low-temperature, controlled burning of the peat layers of raised bog forests can be successfully carried out to achieve the environmental and ecological goals of forest management.

Keywords: forest fires; peat; raised bog; potentially toxic elements (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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