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Restoration of pitcher plant bogs in eastern Texas, USA

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Pitcher plant bogs, also referred to as hillside seepages bogs or hillside bogs, are extremely restricted on the West Gulf Coastal Plain. the number and extent of extant bogs is in the low hundreds, comprising no more than a few thousand hectares of habitat. These bogs support a large number of plant species of significant conservation concern. threats to existing bogs include: land use changes, silvicultural impacts, fire scarcity, vehicle damage, negative feral hog (Sus scrofa) impact, and ground water regime alterations. Two pitcher plant bogs on the angelina National forest were subjected to severe damage from vehicular impacts that eliminated herbaccous vegetation, disturbed the soil to substantial depths, and initiated severe erosion. A restoration effort that replaced lost soil, reduced erosion, and allowed subsequent revegetation was implemented. Approximately four years post-treatment, bogs are intact, soil erosion is controlled, revegetation is complete or progessing, and at least some species of conservation concern are present in the revegetated areas. These restoration projects ahve demonstrated and degraded pitcher plant bogs that have suffered severe damage due to vehicular impacts can be substantially restored if sufficient resources are available. However, pitcher plant bogs on the West Gulf Coastal Plain continue to be threatened by uncontrolled off-road behicles and other impacts. The most insidious threat may be the widespread lack of sufficient fire required to preclude or reverse succession to communities dominated by woody vegetation and subsequent loss of the herbaceous bog species.

Keywords

bogs, off-road vehicle damage, pitcher plant, restoration, Sarracenia, Texas

Citation

Mize, Ronald; Evans, Robert E.; MacRoberts, Barbara R.; MacRoberts, Michael H.; Rudolph, D. Craig. 2005. Restoration of pitcher plant bogs in eastern Texas, USA. Natural Areas Journal. 25(2): 197-201.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/21067