Peat layers are well represented in the Holocene coastal deposits of the southern North Sea and provide evidence as to the extent and nature of the fens and bogs that occupied the region in the mid and late Holocene. While natural processes contributed to their demise, without human interference extensive areas of peatland would remain. We review the characteristics of the vegetation of these peatlands along with the processes that influenced their development. Spatial and temporal trends are explored through the use of palaeogeographic maps from three areas: the East Anglian Fenland, the Romney Marsh area and the Netherlands. The palaeoecological evidence indicates that eutrophic vegetation promoted by rising relative sea level (RSL) dominated in the mid Holocene, with a trend towards the development of oligotrophic and ombrotrophic vegetation in the late Holocene as the rate of RSL rise declined. Nevertheless, areas of eutrophic vegetation appear capable of long-term stability with areas of fen woodland and herbaceous fen persisting at some locations for several thousand years in the mid and late Holocene. Areas of active peat growth in the region are now largely confined to small remnants within agricultural settings. To retain their characteristic biodiversity these remnants have been managed using traditional practices, although their small size and fragmented distribution limits their biodiversity value. Biodiversity concerns and the ecosystem services peatlands provide, notably carbon sequestration and flood attenuation, underlie recent restoration projects. These efforts are likely to receive additional impetus as a consequence of rising water levels, given projected rates of RSL rise. Future large-scale restoration can be informed by a greater understanding of the processes that formed and sustained coastal peatlands in the past. We identify advances in palaeoenvironmental research that could enhance restoration efforts and help maximise the ecosystem services delivered through such projects.

中文翻译：

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北海南部沿海泥炭层和泥炭地：它们的过去、现在和未来

泥炭层在北海南部的全新世沿海沉积物中得到了很好的体现，并提供了关于在全新世中晚期占据该地区的沼泽和沼泽的范围和性质的证据。虽然自然过程导致了它们的消亡，但如果没有人为干预，大片泥炭地仍将存在。我们回顾了这些泥炭地植被的特征以及影响它们发展的过程。通过使用来自三个地区的古地理地图探索空间和时间趋势：东安格利亚芬兰、罗姆尼沼泽地区和荷兰。古生态学证据表明，相对海平面（RSL）上升促进的富营养化植被在全新世中期占主导地位，随着 RSL 上升速率的下降，在全新世晚期有向贫营养和同营养植被发展的趋势。尽管如此，富营养化植被区域似乎能够长期稳定，在全新世中晚期，一些地区的沼泽林地和草本沼泽地区持续了数千年。该地区泥炭生长活跃的地区现在主要局限于农业环境中的小块残余物。为了保留其特有的生物多样性，这些残余物已使用传统做法进行管理，尽管它们的小规模和分散的分布限制了它们的生物多样性价值。生物多样性问题和泥炭地提供的生态系统服务，特别是碳封存和洪水衰减，是最近恢复项目的基础。考虑到 RSL 预计的上升速度，这些努力可能会因水位上升而获得额外的推动力。对过去形成和维持沿海泥炭地的过程有更深入的了解，可以为未来的大规模恢复提供信息。我们确定了古环境研究方面的进展，可以加强恢复工作，并帮助最大限度地利用这些项目提供的生态系统服务。