Restoration of Pitcher Plant Bogs in Eastern Texas, USA
Ronald Mize
Robert E. Evans
Barbara R. MacRoberts
Michael H. MacRoberts
D. Craig Rudolph
Pitcher plant bogs, also referred to as hillside seepage bogs or hillside bogs, are extremely restricted on the West Gulf CoastalPlain. 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 herbaceous 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 progressing, and at least some species of conservation concern are present in the revegetated areas. These restoration projects have demonstrated that 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 vehicles 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 the subsequent loss of the herbaceous bog species.