This paper presents, for the first time, evidence to show that Calluna species are one
causative factor of piping in blanket peat catchments. Ground-penetrating radar survey on
960 plots illustrated that piping was prevalent throughout blanket peats. However, soil
pipe occurrence was significantly higher where bare peat (149 pipes/km) or Calluna
(87 pipes/km) were present compared to other species (67 pipes/km). A case study
catchment where there was an altitudinal limit to Calluna provided some control over
potential factors that may lead to an association between piping and Calluna. Under the
controlled conditions of topographic index, peat depth, and water table, piping was greater
under the Calluna-covered peat than under other vegetation covers. Laboratory
experiments demonstrated that 10 years worth of rainfall was enough to almost double the
proportion of macropore flow occurring in recently colonized Calluna peatlands. This
suggests that given enough water and time, the woody Calluna plants result in water being
preferentially channeled through the upper peat. Improvements are therefore required in
our understanding of the relationships between peatland plant nutrient and water supply
and the feedbacks between ecosystem functioning and landform development. These
results are also important given the propensity to encourage Calluna growth for game bird
enhancement in many northern peatlands
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