Testate amoebae (Protists) as palaeoenvironmental indicators in peatlands – The Polish experience

Within the PEATWARM project, we use Sphagnumpeatlands as a model to analyse their vulnerability to climate change using an experimental system (ITEX) that simulates in situan increase in average temperature. We aim to determine the effects of temperature increase on the vegetation, the balance of above- and belowground gas fluxes (CO2and CH4), the microbial diversity and activity in Sphagnummosses and in peat, and the dynamics of labile and recalcitrant organic matter of peat. The ultimate objective is the creation of a biogeochemical model of C coupled with N and S cycles that includes interactions between these key compartments.