Review: Peatlands hold a place in the imagination far beyond their spatial extent. They are areas of considerable ecological diversity in boreal regions. They are places of industry and also of history with the pollen record held in their layers. One could also extend this to include those writers who have tried to convey all manner of events in these wetland areas. Most importantly, they are key ecological areas whose welfare is vital to us especially in terms of global warming. It follows that any text aiming to examine this area is welcome.

We start with an overview of peatland science and one of the first points is terminology. With peatlands spreading over several areas and ecological traditions it’s vital we can compare like with like. However, we also get a chance to see the main peatland divisions (they’re certainly not homogenous) and a brief overview of their biology and ecology. Chapter two focuses on biodiversity. It’s obvious that bryophytes play a major role but there are also numerous other flora and fauna (especially insects). This is not to say that peatland is a neutral environment. It’s acidic and anaerobic conditions require adaptations which are the subject of chapter three. Next, the key plant Sphagnum is described in some detail. Chapter five starts to discuss peatland soils. Here there’s a wealth of information both ecological and archaeological that can be found. Work starts with an investigation of peat soils and their chemical and physical properties. This moves on to the peat profile in chapter 6 which examines both the profile and the way it can be obtained and assessed. Part of this record is due to peatland succession and so chapter 7 outlines the way this can happen and the variations one can see. Chapters 8 and 9 describe another key component of peatland – water. This vital part both defines peatland divisions and acts as a nutrient supply. Having described the various key components we turn towards the more holistic side of peatland ecology with an examination of surface patterns and the resultant landforms. It’s very clear that they are far from the flat featureless areas that one might suppose and this heterogeneity is continued when, in chapter 11 we look at global distributions. One of the main aspects of peatland is its energy storage both for ecology and as a source of fuel. Chapters 11 and 12 explore these two elements respectively. A final chapter describes the human uses and misuses of peatland.

This is an excellent overview of a diverse and complex ecosystem. It contains a wealth of information (and a lengthy bibliography) often gathering resources from a diverse range of locations and peatland types. Organisation is logical and precise which is not always the case in some ecosystem overviews. It is slightly more technical than would suit a senior school student but it is an excellent review for educators. Field centres dealing with peatlands should see this as a key text. Likewise, undergraduate ecology students would find it difficult to get a better review of current knowledge. Highly recommended.