A Multi-Community Approach in Biodiversity Assessment of a Peat Bog in the Southern Carpathians (Romania) and Implications for Conservation.

This article focuses on the biodiversity and conservation value of Peşteana peat bog, an upland mesotrophic peatland in the Southern Carpathians, Romania, through a multi-community assessment of invertebrate and plant assemblages along a humidity gradient. The study documented high diversity across 43 invertebrate taxonomic groups and numerous plant indicator species, finding that top soil invertebrate community composition was primarily influenced by soil attributes such as depth of organic layer, vegetation cover, and soil compaction, while diversity patterns varied among invertebrate and plant communities in relation to habitat type and environmental factors. The research highlights that invertebrate and plant communities respond differently to habitat conditions, underscoring the importance of integrating multiple taxa in conservation planning to effectively preserve peatland biodiversity. The findings also emphasize peatlands’ role in supporting diverse biological communities within small areas and advocate for multi-community approaches to guide conservation and management strategies.