Peatland Ecology Working Group
News
POSTDOC POSITION OPEN!
We are hiring a Postdoc in Plant & Soil Spectroscopy (FTIR)!
Send your application by February 28, 2026
SWS Europe 2026 Conference
České Budějovice, June 29 - July 2, 2026
Abstract submission is open (deadline: March 15)
New Project:
Linking Methane Cycling to Plant Species and Organic Matter Quality: Restoring Peatland Function.
We are an working group concerned with peatland ecology. We combine expertise in plant ecology/ecophysiology and soil biology in our research topics, allowing us to combine different approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of peatland ecosystem functioning.
Main directions of our research are:
- Impact of drainage and hydrological restoration on peatland functioning
- Ecophysiology and biochemistry of peatland plants, especially Sphagnum mosses
- Biochemical properties of plant biomass and peat, including DOM
- Plant–soil–microbes interactions and processes in organic soils
Are you a student or researcher interested in working with us? Feel free to contact any of us!
Projects carried out in the field of peatland research
- Linking methane cycling to plant species and organic matter quality: Restoring peatland function (2026–2028, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Zuzana Urbanová)
- Integrating Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) into peatland carbon models: From local to global perspective (2025–2027, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Petra Straková)
- MiDiPeat (Monitoring of peat microbial diversity through vegetation properties and its implication for carbon dynamics across European peatlands; 2024–2026, European Biodiversity Partnership, PI: Tomáš Hájek/Zuzana Urbanová)
- LIFE for MIRES (Transboundary restoration of mires for biodiversity and landscape hydrology in Šumava and Bavarian Forest; 2018–2024, LIFE Programme, PI: Zuzana Urbanová)
- The influence of plant functional type and phenology on plant inputs to soil as affected by simultaneous changes in environmental factors (2019–2022, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Keith Edwards)
- Decay resistance of Sphagnum – biochemical causes and consequences (2018–2020, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Tomáš Hájek)
- Effect of hydrological restoration of long-term drained peatlands on functional diversity of soil microorganisms in relation to organic matter quality (2014–2016, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Zuzana Urbanová)
- Functional diversity of soil microorganisms in spruce swamp forest and its effect on soil DOM (2013–2016, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Tomáš Picek)
- Calcium tolerance in Sphagnum, its physiological and genetic backgrounds, and consequences in mire ecology (2010–2014, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Tomáš Hájek)
- The importance of newly assimilated carbon on plant–soil interactions in wet grasslands under changing environmental conditions (2009–2013, Czech Science Foundation, PI: Keith Edwards)
People
Keith Edwards
Tomáš Hájek
Profile on jcu.cz
Homepage
0000-0002-5981-5840
Webmaster of this page
Tomáš Picek
Petra Straková
Zuzana Urbanová
Selected publications
Procházková J., Hájek T., Mikulášková E., Plášek V., Těšitel J., & Hájek M. (2025): Congruent responses of epiphytic bryophyte communities to air pollution on two host tree species differing in bark chemistry. Preslia, 97, 157–173. https>//doi.org/10.23855/preslia.2025.157.
Tejnecký V., Luláková P., Šantrůčková H., Křížová P., Lehejček J., Hájek T., Mercl F., Bárta J., Němeček K., & Drábek O. (2025): Arctic willow (Salix polaris) exudation as a driver of microbial activity and soil formation in the High Arctic tundra. Biogeochemistry, 168, 30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-025-01222-x.
Edwards K.R., Glocker B., Mastný J. and Picek T. (2025). Changing environmental conditions impact the phenotypic plasticity of Carex acuta and Glyceria maxima, two common wet grassland species. Frontiers in Plant Science, 16, 1542907. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.154290
Hájek, T., & Urbanová, Z. (2024). Enzyme adaptation in Sphagnum peatlands questions the significance of dissolved organic matter in enzyme inhibition. Science of The Total Environment, 911, 168685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168685
Lampela, M., Minkkinen, K., Straková, P., Bhuiyan, R., He, W., Mäkiranta, P., Ojanen, P., Penttilä, T., & Laiho, R. (2023). Responses of fine-root biomass and production to drying depend on wetness and site nutrient regime in boreal forested peatland. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 6, 1190893. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1190893
Edwards, K. R., Bárta, J., Mastný, J., & Picek, T. (2023). Multiple environmental factors, but not nutrient addition, directly affect wet grassland soil microbial community structure: a mesocosm study. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 99(7), fiad070. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiad070
Bhuiyan, R., Mäkiranta, P., Straková, P., Fritze, H., Minkkinen, K., Penttilä, T., Rajala, T., Tuittila, E. -S., & Laiho, R. (2023). Fine-root biomass production and its contribution to organic matter accumulation in sedge fens under changing climate. Science of The Total Environment, 858, 159683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159683
Watmough, S., Gilbert-Parkes, S., Basiliko, N., Lamit, L. J., Lilleskov, E. A., Andersen, R., del Aguila-Pasquel, J., Artz, R. E., Benscoter, B. W., Borken, W., Bragazza, L., Brandt, S. M., Bräuer, S. L., Carson, M. A., Chen, X., Chimner, R. A., Clarkson, B. R., Cobb, A. R., Enriquez, A. S.,… Urbanová, Z., et al. (2022). Variation in carbon and nitrogen concentrations among peatland categories at the global scale. PLOS ONE, 17(11), e0275149. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275149
Verbeke, B. A., Lamit, L. J., Lilleskov, E. A., Hodgkins, S. B., Basiliko, N., Kane, E. S., Andersen, R., Artz, R. R. E., Benavides, J. C., Benscoter, B. W., Borken, W., Bragazza, L., Brandt, S. M., Bräuer, S. L., Carson, M. A., Charman, D., Chen, X., Clarkson, B. R., Cobb, A. R. ,… Urbanová, Z., et al. (2022). Latitude, Elevation, and Mean Annual Temperature Predict Peat Organic Matter Chemistry at a Global Scale. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 36(2), e2021GB007057. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GB007057
Mastný, J., Bárta, J., Kaštovská, E., & Picek, T. (2021). Decomposition of peatland DOC affected by root exudates is driven by specific r and K strategic bacterial taxa. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 18677. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97698-2
Urbanová, Z., & Hájek, T. (2021). Revisiting the concept of ‘enzymic latch’ on carbon in peatlands. Science of The Total Environment, 779, 146384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146384
Straková, P., Larmola, T., Andrés, J., Ilola, N., Launiainen, P., Edwards, K., Minkkinen, K., & Laiho, R. (2020). Quantification of Plant Root Species Composition in Peatlands Using FTIR Spectroscopy. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 597. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00597
Hájek, T. (2020). Interlinking moss functional traits. A commentary on: ‘Mechanisms behind species-specific water economy responses to water level drawdown in peat mosses’. Annals of Botany, 126(2), iv-v. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaa108
Vicherová, E., Glinwood, R., Hájek, T., Šmilauer, P., & Ninkovic, V. (2020). Bryophytes can recognize their neighbours through volatile organic compounds. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 7405. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64108-y
Tveit, A. T., Kiss, A., Winkel, M., Horn, F., Hájek, T., Svenning, M. M., Wagner, D., & Liebner, S. (2020). Environmental patterns of brown moss- and Sphagnum-associated microbial communities. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 22412. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79773-2
Edwards, K. R., & Čížková, H. (2020). Nutrient Inputs and Hydrology Interact with Plant Functional Type in Affecting Plant Production and Nutrient Contents in a Wet Grassland. Wetlands, 40(4), 707-719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-019-01216-0
Urbanová, Z., & Bárta, J. (2020). Recovery of methanogenic community and its activity in long-term drained peatlands after rewetting. Ecological Engineering, 150, 105852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105852
Edwards, K. R., & Kučera, T. (2019). Management effects on plant species composition and ecosystem processes and services in a nutrient-poor wet grassland. Plant Ecology, 220(11), 1009-1020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-019-00970-9
Chroňáková, A., Bárta, J., Kaštovská, E., Urbanová, Z., & Picek, T. (2019). Spatial heterogeneity of belowground microbial communities linked to peatland microhabitats with different plant dominants. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 95(9), fiz130. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiz130
Kotas, P., Edwards, K., Jandová, K., & Kaštovská, E. (2019). Interaction of fertilization and soil water status determine C partitioning in a sedge wetland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 135, 85-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.03.031
Bengtsson, F., Rydin, H., & Hájek, T. (2018). Biochemical determinants of litter quality in 15 species of Sphagnum. Plant and Soil, 425(1-2), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3579-8
Kaštovská, E., Straková, P., Edwards, K., Urbanová, Z., Bárta, J., Mastný, J., Šantrůčková, H., & Picek, T. (2018). Cotton-Grass and Blueberry have Opposite Effect on Peat Characteristics and Nutrient Transformation in Peatland. Ecosystems, 21(3), 443-458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-017-0159-3
Urbanová, Z., Straková, P., & Kaštovská, E. (2018). Response of peat biogeochemistry and soil organic matter quality to rewetting in bogs and spruce swamp forests. European Journal of Soil Biology, 85, 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2017.12.004
Edwards, K. R., Kaštovská, E., Borovec, J., Šantrůčková, H., & Picek, T. (2018). Species effects and seasonal trends on plant efflux quantity and quality in a spruce swamp forest. Plant and Soil, 426(1-2), 179-196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3610-0
Korrensalo, A., Alekseychik, P., Hájek, T., Rinne, J., Vesala, T., Mehtätalo, L., Mammarella, I., & Tuittila, E. -S. (2017). Species-specific temporal variation in photosynthesis as a moderator of peatland carbon sequestration. Biogeosciences, 14(2), 257-269. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-257-2017
Vicherová, E., Hájek, M., Šmilauer, P., & Hájek, T. (2017). Sphagnum establishment in alkaline fens: Importance of weather and water chemistry. Science of The Total Environment, 580, 1429-1438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.109
Plesková, Z., Jiroušek, M., Peterka, T., Hájek, T., Dítě, D., Hájková, P., Navrátilová, J., Šímová, A., Syrovátka, V., Hájek, M., & Wildi, O. (2016). Testing inter‐regional variation in pH niches of fen mosses. Journal of Vegetation Science, 27(2), 352-364. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12348
Korrensalo, A., Hájek, T., Vesala, T., Mehtätalo, L., & Tuittila, E. -S. (2016). Variation in photosynthetic properties among bog plants. Botany, 94(12), 1127-1139. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2016-0117
Kaštovská, E., Edwards, K., Picek, T., & Šantrůčková, H. (2015). A larger investment into exudation by competitive versus conservative plants is connected to more coupled plant–microbe N cycling. Biogeochemistry, 122(1), 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-014-0028-5
Vicherová, E., Hájek, M., & Hájek, T. (2015). Calcium intolerance of fen mosses: Physiological evidence, effects of nutrient availability and successional drivers. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 17(5), 347-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2015.06.005
Edwards, K. R. (2015). Effect of nutrient additions and site hydrology on belowground production and root nutrient contents in two wet grasslands. Ecological Engineering, 84, 325-335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.09.034
Hájek, M., Jiroušek, M., Navrátilová, J., Horodyská, E., Peterka, T., Plesková, Z., Navrátil, J., Hájková, P., & Hájek, T. (2015). Changes in the moss layer of Czech fens indicate early succession triggered by nutrient enrichment. Preslia, 87(2), 279-301.
Mikulášková, E., Hájek, M., Veleba, A., Johnson, M. G., Hájek, T., & Shaw, J. A. (2015). Local adaptations in bryophytes revisited: the genetic structure of the calcium‐tolerant peatmoss Sphagnum warnstorfii along geographic and pH gradients. Ecology and Evolution, 5(1), 229-242. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1351
Edwards, K. R., Picek, T., Čížková, H., Máchalová Zemanová, K., & Stará, A. (2015). Nutrient Addition Effects on Carbon Fluxes in Wet Grasslands With Either Organic or Mineral Soil. Wetlands, 35(1), 55-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-014-0592-4
