Divergent successional trends of birds and plants across six years of Typha paludiculture

Paludiculture offers an alternative land use for rewetted, formerly drained peatlands which enables continued productive utilization and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. To tackle both the climate and biodiversity crises, research into the biodiversity implications of paludiculture is crucial. Here we look at a 10-ha fen pilot site that was turned from a drained grassland into a Typha cropping paludiculture planted with Typha angustifolia (Narrow-leaved cattail) and T. latifolia (Broadleaf cattail), and is harvested in winter most years. Vegetation surveys were conducted across 80 permanent plots and breeding bird surveys across the site, both for six years starting directly after site establishment in 2020. The shift in plant species composition was assessed over the study period, and bird species were compared to other rewetted peatlands in the region. Vegetation showed a clear transition over time toward increasing dominance of Typha , and the number of breeding pairs with a preference for tall vegetation increased in parallel. However, even though vegetation height has increased and the site is managed to optimize Typha growth, species with a preference for open habitat have not declined and the site, remains sufficiently heterogenous to support a diversity of bird species. The bird species composition in the site appeared to be different from other rewetted peatlands in the region, even while mire-typical species are consistently breeding in the site. Our results provide an example of a thriving bird population existing alongside paludiculture.