Testing theories of mire development using multiple successions at Crymlyn Bog, West Glamorgan, South Wales, UK

1 Direct observations of long-term plant succession can be made using quantified plant macrofossil records from peat bogs, providing a means to re-evaluate theories of succession previously based on time-space substitution studies or field stratigraphic surveys. 2 Multiple successions from fen towards raised mire recorded at Crymlyn Bog demonstrate that divergent pathways exist, even when initial conditions are similar within a single bog. 3 Over time-scales relevant to the later stages of mire succession, allogenic forcing factors are significant and may be responsible for driving the direction and rate of species turnover in both forward and reversed hydroseral successions. 4 Differences in the local climatic regime may be responsible for the contrasting character of the mid- and late-Holocene transitional mire communities represented in Core CRB93 at Crymlyn Bog. 5 Plant macrofossil analyses show that Sphagnum is not always a dominant part of the mire community before the establishment of raised peats. Other species including Eriophorum vaginatum, may be equally important 'ecosystem engineers' at the fen–bog transition

Inventory and projections of UK emissions by sources and removals by sinks due to land use, land use change and forestry. Annual report July 2009

The overall aim of the project id to produce inventories and projections of UK greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks due to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). The project report contains the methods and numbers for these inventories and progress reports on the science undertaken to support and develop the inventory