Bogs and Fens

Bogs

Bogs are an area where 50% of the vegetation are herbaceous, and water is present. “The water in a bog is largely rainwater; it is stagnant, acidic, and exceedingly poor in nutrients” (Pielou p.146). Bogs have much more color then fens. “Bogs are found almost exclusively in glaciated depressions in northeastern Illinois” (Aquatic Illinois p.1). The Volo bog is found in Illinois, and that is a bog that is opened at the center of it. It was formed 15,000 years ago during the last Winsonsinian glacier. Some plants that are part of bogs are: cattails, arrowhead, duck weed, and tamarack tree. The most interesting plant is the pitcher plant, this plant is a carnivorous plant that eats insects, mites, spiders, and small frogs (Aquatic Illinois p.1).These plants feed a variety of different animals. Some animals are dragonflies, leopard frogs, bullfrog, and snail (Aquatic Illinois p.1). If you are interested where to find a Volo bog, the best place to see one is in Volo Bog State Natural Area in Lake County (Aquatic Illinois p.1).

Cattails

http://www.cattails.info/images/cattails_8yyb.jpg

Arrowhead

http://www.ccwaterscapes.com/Bog%20Plants/arrowarum.JPG

Duck weed

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHqfohYVNvf5BogFWbEk2Y4Mj6E1MFcnNwGSk6L8uXbJyiv0dUaIHtR7cOWZC6Y_J6Txr6jREK7W4XTrAciP9vqG7zizLwo704a6IHRydI0Vdl8CUSQq6ySnaBxYiWEZqSouw91jQWhFT/s1600/

Wood+Duck+in+Duckweed.jpg

Pitcher Plant

http://wildflowers.jdcc.edu/Green%20Spotted%20Pitcher%20Plant.JPG

Fens

Fens are a type of a wet meadow that feeds on calcareous. More than 50 percent of the vegetation in a fen is herbaceous (Aquatic Illinois p.3).”The water in a fen is groundwater seepage or slowly flowing surface water, and has therefore picked up some mineral nutrients to nourish the vegetation; thus fen water moves, albeit very slowly”(Pielou p.146). Fens are also called perched bogs or hanging bogs. The plants that are usually included in fens are: pitcher plant, turtlehead, skunk cabbage, beaked spikerush, wild marsh timothy, hoary willow, rushes, dwarf bitch and cotton grass (Aquatic Illinois p.3). If interested in seeing fens you can visit Turner Lake in Lake County.

Turtlehead