Take "bog bodies," which have been remarkably well preserved due to the acidic, oxygen-poor conditions of peat bogs. This surveys also recorded many wetland birds, with Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) particularly widespread. The most documented is the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) project at Lough Boora, where the numbers of birds have increased from 26 to 436 through a successful and intensive management programme undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service with assistance from Bord na Móna over the last ten years. Cedar Bog is a protected area of about 450 acres of land which remains from the original area of approximately 7,000 acres. After traveling 2 miles, turn left onto Stearns Road. Bogs are extremely wet places, that can also be called mires, marshes or swamps.The soil in these areas is very dark and known as peat. Peat (/ p iː t /), sometimes known as turf (/ t ɜːr f /), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter.It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The UK has 13% of all the world’s blanket bog, Peatlands are home to rare wading birds such as dunlin, the threatened hen harrier, weird and wonderful plants like the insect-eating sundew and throngs of insects including dragonflies, large heath butterflies, emperor moths and dazzling jewel beetles, Peatland vegetation slows the flow of rainfall, helping to prevent flooding in local towns and villages, Global peatlands contain at least 550 Gigatonnes of carbon, more than twice the carbon stored in all forests, UK’s Peatlands store over three billion tonnes of carbon, around the same amount as all the forest in the UK, France and Germany put together, Peat is the single biggest store of carbon in the UK, storing the equivalent of 20 years of all UK CO, Inland water bodies including peatlands provide £1.5 billion value in terms of water quality, 70% of UK drinking water comes from upland areas dominated by peatlands, Sphagnum moss is a key component of blanket bogs, Sphagnum can hold up to 20 times its weight in water, Each kind of sphagnum moss has its own shade of colour, ranging from red, pink and orange through to green, Some grow underwater in pools and wet hollows whilst others can survive in fairly dry conditions, Hummocks are created by sphagnum mosses growing to form large mounds up to a metre high, Some mosses grow only a few millimetres a year, while others grow over 3cm, Mosses grow from spores which are produced in fruiting bodies called capsules, Sphagnum mosses produce chemicals which increase the acidity of the water and further prevent the decay of dead plants. Some of these are yellowlegs, Siberian cranes, caribou, beavers, and moose. Amphibians, particularly the moor frog ( Rana arvalis ), live and/or spawn in bogs; snakes enter bogs to hunt them. Grey Partridge – the cutaway bogs are proving to be very valuable areas for a range of bird species. Degraded bogs have fewer bog-mosses and scrub encroachment is a common consequence of drainage or water abstraction from the underlying aquifer. The open landscape and wetland areas are considered to be particularly important for the success of wader species. Dry sphagnum moss is absorbent and also mildly antiseptic. One of the more lovely species is Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris) but there are also more abundant Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza spp) and Butterfly Orchid (Plathanthera bifolia). Wildlife management areas (WMAs) are part of Minnesota's outdoor recreation system and are established to protect those lands and waters that have a high potential for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing, and other compatible recreational uses. A wider survey is likely to reveal more species but some of the known species are Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia) and Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer). This has caused a decrease in the populations of native species. are the result of ponds filling up with dead plant matter – peat. van Geel, B (1978) A palaeoecological study of Holocene peat bog sections in Germany and the Netherlands, based on the analysis of pollen, spores and macro- and microscopic remains of fungi, algae, cormophytes and animals. Dune & … The acidic nature of peat leads to an interesting matrix of plant species, including bog asphodel and insectivorous sundews and butterwort. More than forty endangered, threatened, and rare plants and animals can be found at Cedar Bog. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; alkaline mires are called fens. Raccoons are one of the largest mammals able to make their homes in bogs, although moose, beaver, and river otters often visit bogs to feed or find shelter. The decline is linked to loss of suitable habitat. The mixture of plant and animal species living on and in peatlands are essential for the process of peat formation, thus protecting and/or restoring the peat-forming plant species, and the animals that help those plants to regenerate, is essential. Many of these species are of conservation concern, highlighting the importance of wetlands present on the cutaways to threatened birds. Turn right onto Boston Post Road in Amherst. There are high levels of heavy metals in peat in the Peak District and South Pennines because they were present in smoke from factories during the industrial revolution, Heavy metals found in the peat soil include copper, zinc, cadmium and lead, These metals are so abundant that metal eating bacteria normally found on scrapheaps have been found in the peat, Levels of zinc and copper in waterways coming off the moors are beyond EU thresholds, Water companies in the area have to dispose of sediment in their reservoirs as toxic waste when dredged because of the abundance of heavy metals, Acid rain has turned peat, in some cases, to the same pH as lemon juice. is abundant on the cutaways in May and its white fluffy seedheads can create an entirely new landscape while in full bloom across the Midlands, while there is a fantastic display of orchids to be seen at Finnamores and Lough Boora in April and May. Pine Marten (Martes martes) tracks are relatively common throughout the bogs surveyed to date. Golden Plover, and Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). This has decimated sphagnum moss populations and made the environment inhospitable for plants to grow, Worst eroding square kilometres of moorland are losing 800 tonnes carbon per year, These areas could be sequestering (taking in and storing) up to 500 tonnes carbon per year, We have developed techniques for stabilising peat which have resulted in the successful re-vegetation of bare peat, In the first 17 years we have transformed over 33 sq km of bare peat, Installed 2,757 dams over 13 km of grips and gullies, Trained 360 Community Science Project wildlife surveyors, Attended or hosted 136 events, reaching 4,265 people, Spread 6,462 bags of heather brash over 0.31 km. The more common species do however create great spectacles at different times of the year – Bog Cotton (Eriophorum spp.) They provide shelter in an otherwise open landscape, Building an evidence base to underpin our work, Inspiring people to love and look after the moors, Landscape scale working unhindered by ownership boundaries, Providing homes for a wonderful array of wildlife, Healthy, well-functioning blanket bogs are less likely to burn, The moors play an important part in health and wellbeing, The unique plants on the moors slow the flow of rain off the hills, Free audio downloads to help you explore the moors on a guided walk, Enjoy and protect the moors whilst staying safe, Special plants and animals to look out for on your moorland visit, Find out about the wealth of knowledge stored locally, Find out how you can take action to reduce the risk of wildfire, Recording plants and animals whilst you are out and about, Why Tony and Jane choose to volunteer with us, Educational resources and help for teachers, Meet the people who make up Moors for the Future Partnership, Find out about the organisations who make up our partnership. As further data becomes available through the Bord na Móna ecology survey and surveys carried out by others such as BirdWatch Ireland on behalf of Bord na Móna, a wider picture of species diversity will emerge over the range of the Bord na Móna bogs. In bog lakes, mats of vegetation (bryophytes, angiosperms, algae) may float out over the littoral zone and grow toward the center for many years as the bottom of the lake fills in with peat (Whittaker, 1975). Heaths, larches, and black spruce, which grow fairly well on the floating bog, survive only as stunted specimens around the edges of the raised bog. Over the centuries, these small animals have been used as draft animals in the peat bogs … They are usually found in glacial depressions, with restricted drainage. There is a further site nearby at Lullybeg, Lullymore which is managed by Butterfly Conservation Ireland. The Lullybeg site is managed by members of Butterfly Conservation Ireland who employ a number of targeted management practices such as scrub removal and managed grazing by cattle to maintain suitable habitat conditions for the breeding butterflies. A number of mammal species are recorded on the cutaway bogs including commoner species such as Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Badger (Meles meles), Hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus), Rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus), rodent species including Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus), and non-native species such as Fallow Deer (Dama dama) and Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Climate Change. Whooper Swan – the cutaway bogs have also been highlighted by BirdWatch Ireland as some of the top sites in the Midlands to view birds. 8ha) and boasts an impressive insect fauna with rare butterflies and moths. It was also used for lamp wicks, bedding and babies’ nappies, Sphagnum moss is now used by gardeners for a variety of purposes, Damage to peatlands is caused by drainage, atmospheric pollution, peat extraction and burning, Globally, 25% of peatlands have been destroyed, 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere each year from damaged UK peatlands, Damage to peatlands results in brown water which is expensive for water companies to treat ready for us to drink, Damaged peatlands result in declining wildlife as habitat disappears, Damaged peatlands contribute to worsening climate change. Turn left onto Rhodora Drive and drive straight ahead to park for the Sanctuary. Bogs are also home to many rare and protected plants and animals, including orchids, the common frog, Irish hare, otter, hen harrier, Greenland white fronted goose, peregrine falcon, golden plover and merlin making bogs and extremely important Irish habitat in terms of biodiversity. There aren't many fish in bogs because of the low levels of oxygen in the water. A fen is a wetland area that drains water, whereas a bog retains water. The peat underlying a Sphagnum bog is composed largely of partly decomposed moss. From the Everett Turnpike: Take Nashua exit 7 or 8 and travel west on Route 101A for about 5 miles. Ireland’s peat bogs have yielded amazing artifacts over the years – ancient weapons, tools, animals and the occasional leather-covered boat. Lots of bog bodies retain some or all of their original skin. ), which are the architects of the bog, storing vast amounts of carbon and retaining water like a sponge. This little moss is the dominant plant in a peat bog. From the junction of Routes 101 and 101A in Amherst: Drive east on Route 101A for about 0.5 mile, then turn left … These unusual wetlands are home to a variety of plants and animals including unique bog lemmings, pitcher plants, and sundews. The animals that are in a peat bog are mostly nesting birds and some furry mammals. Peat: The Most Efficient Carbon Sink In The World. Marsh Fritillary Butterfly – there are two sites in Kildare that are host to Marsh Fritillary. The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) manage a site in Lullymore the ownership of which was transferred by Bord na Móna in 2005. And that's because bog plants can’t harvest any mineral nutrients from the peat, because there aren’t any! Dead remains of the sphagnum mosses pile up and get pressed together to eventually form the soil we know as peat. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. While the habitats recorded to date on the Bord na Móna bogs are to a greater or lesser extent comprised of relatively common species, there are a number of species of high conservation value that are using the cutaway bogs. England desperately needs more trees, we are constantly told. Fens are home to a great variety of animals. Less common are Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Otter and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus). A baygall is another type of bog found in the forest of the Gulf Coast states in the USA. It is an evocative display as it heralds the turning of the year. Turtles, frogs, insects and insect-eating birds are also common in bogs. Examples of this are non-native dogs, cats and black rats that eat young giant tortoises and Galapagos land iguanas. That applies especially to peat mosses ( Sphagnum spp . The Irish population is therefore particularly important. Non-native animals have been introduced to the islands, which eat some native species. They are now widespread throughout the wider area. While the habitats of the cutaway bogs are largely dominated by relatively common Irish plant species, there are some rare species or species with restricted distribution finding the cutaway bogs a suitable habitat to expand their populations. Peat bogs are carbon sink s, meaning they store enormous amounts of carbon, in a … Bleak, treeless and often shrouded in low cloud, blanket bog can seem a desolate habitat. Peatland ecosystems are the most efficient carbon sinks in the world, which means the area stores carbon and carbon-containing substances for long periods of time. During the First and Second World Wars it was used as wound dressings. And on a gruesome note: Preserved bodies are sometimes found in bogs! The gradual accumulation of decayed plant material in … The Marsh Fritillary maintains a healthy and expanding population on the Lullybeg site but elsewhere in Ireland it is in danger of extinction, as in Britain and the rest of Europe. Red Squirrels are declining nationally due mainly to the spread of the Grey Squirrel. Similarly, Heather (Calluna vulgaris) in September is so abundant on bog remnants as to turn the bog purple.