Peatlands – Kettlehole Bog EarthCache
HITECHTEAM: Time to let this one go.....it had a nice ride.
Hitechman & Hitechgal
Peatlands – Kettlehole Bog
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Bogs are common throughout the previously glaciated regions of the
United States, and each one is truly unique. The Great Lakes region
contains the most extensive peatlands in the United States.
Peatlands include bogs and fens (marshes), as well as
conifer, hardwood, and shrub, swamps. Non-forested, Sphagnum
peatlands -- bogs and acidic fens -- are ecosystems where
conditions are harsh and species diversity is low. Water is
abundant, but nutrients are scarce. Decomposition occurs slowly and
organic material can remain preserved for hundreds or thousands of
years.
This 64-acre, unnamed, level, kettlehole bog is one of many located
in the Ward Hills range of the Manistee National Forest. It formed
over 10,000 years ago when the last continental glacier (during the
Pleistocene epoch or “ice age”) retreated, leaving a
huge chunk of ice buried in sand and gravel. When the ice melted,
it left a steep-sided basin in the glacial till, which filled with
water to become a kettle lake (pond).
Because this “pond” was poorly drained, with little or
no surface water inflow or outflow (bogs are rain-fed rather than
stream-fed), the nutrient level decreased as the pioneer (and
current) species, leatherleaf (a small shrub), grew—only
small amounts of nutrients enter bogs, mainly through precipitation
and erosion (dust). The sphagnum moss then moved in (and remains),
and removed the nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) as
it grew and reproduced. It replaced them with hydrogen ions
(acids), thus lowering the pH of the water to near that of lemon
juice and tomatoes. Bogs are usually their own climax communities
and remain stable for extremely long periods of time.
As time passed and the top layer of moss died, more would grow on
top of the dead layer. This process repeated itself many times (and
continues to do so today). Because of the acidified water, the dead
material does not decay, but, rather, builds up. This mat of
floating moss (and leatherleaf shrubs) started at the outer
boundaries, moved inward in concentric circles, and deepened
vertically. The root structure of the leatherleaf provides the
foundation for the moss to gain a foothold. The mat in this bog is
“grounded” near shore, but may still be
“floating” near the center. When the bog mat is not
grounded to the bottom of the basin, it quivers or quakes when
stepped upon -- earning the name "quaking bog”.
This bog is fairly mature—very little standing-open water.
Upon occasion, more bog plants will begin to grow on top of the
others and a very small mound will evolve. Those plants on the top
of the mound are effectively cut off from the water supply when the
outflow (evaporation and transpiration) exceeds the inflow
(precipitation). This particular bog will probably remain level
because of the warmer temperatures (high evaporation) and the lower
level of rainfall during Michigan’s summer months. You can
see one small area (the island-like growth of trees) that has
"mounded" near the center of the western side.
Bogs are oligotrophic, meaning that they have very low
productivity. The 2 main species in this bog are sphagnum moss and
the leatherleaf shrub. The Native Americans used the leatherleaf to
make a “tea”, and they dried the moss to use as bedding
and insulation. Because of the acidity of the water, no species of
amphibians, and very few insects make this place their home.
Animals may visit, but rarely remain. Some birds may nest in the
trees that grow on the “islands” of higher elevation or
in the branches of the leatherleaf.
If you visit in the spring, early summer, or fall, you will
probably observe standing water from the precipitation and snow
melt. Summer observation will probably show no standing water, but
the moss mat is spongy and damp. The USFS road is not plowed in the
winter, but is accessible via snowmobile or a short snowshoe
hike.
A big thank you to Les Russell, district ranger (USFS, Manistee
National Forest, Baldwin), for allowing the placement of this
EarthCache.
As always, handle this fragile ecosystem with care, and leave no
trace of your visit.
Platinum EarthCache Master
DO NOT PROCEED MORE THAN 2-3 FEET INTO
THIS BOG.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO “FALL THROUGH” THE FLOATING
MAT.
To log your visit you must (no exceptions to these
requirements will be made):
1) Make an estimate as to the N-S length of the bog (to the
south woods line—at right angles to the road) in feet.
2) Make an estimate in inches as to the height of the
leatherleaf shrubs growing in the bog.
3a) Obtain a pH test strip (inexpensive--most pool stores
sell this) and measure the pH of the water. If there is no standing
water, press the test paper into the damp mat to obtain a
reading.
3b) As an alternative to requirement #3a you
may tell me which stage this bog is in by using the diagram posted
above.
4a) Carefully (and without damage) fold back the branches of
a leatherleaf shrub and tell me what you see on the surface (other
than water).
4b) As an alternative to requirement #4a you
can record the elevation at the coordinates.
5a)Obtain a current aerial photograph of the
bog and determine its total acerage, and the acerage of "open
water". E-mail me the values and calculate the total percentage of
open water.
5b) As an alternative to #5a, you can take
(and post with your log) a picture near the coordinates clearly
showing some aspect of the geology of the bog at this site. You
do not have to include you/your team in the photo, but feel
free to do so.
Each cacher/log must E-mail me the
answers to questions 1, 2, 3a or b, 4a or 4b, and 5a (or post a
photo), or the log will be deleted--do not post them in your log
entry.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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