Muskegs are moderate to highly vulnerable to climate change. Warmer temperatures may increase water losses, but potentially increasing groundwater recharge could offset higher rates of evaporation.

Submitted by dshannon on

Warmer temperatures may increase water losses, but potentially increasing groundwater recharge could offset higher rates of evaporation. However, if drying does occur, peat decomposition is possible, resulting in increases in available nitrogen, increasing the risk of invasive species. Black spruce is likely to experience a steep decline, and under high change scenarios, tamarack could decline as well. If tree species are lost entirely, community structure would be fundamentally changed. However, low topographic position and connections to cool groundwater may reduce the impact of increasing temperature. In addition, several dominant shrubs and herbaceous plants appear to tolerate or even benefit from higher temperature. Highly acidic soils also provide a buffer against invasive species.