DEV BIO 232 Lecture 7: Bio E179 Lecture 7 Notes .doc
Document Summary
Swamps and marshes are open systems, whose water sources are rivers or streams. Bogs receive water from rainfall while fens are sustained by groundwater seeping upward. The source of water affects the hydraulic residence time of water within these habitats. Open systems (marshes and swamps) have a shorter hydraulic residence time than bogs (the longest) or fens. Productivity to biomass ratio (p:b) = 1. 2 (greater than other types) Contain trees and shrubs (woody emergent plants), but also a variety of macrophytes in open areas (usually limited). Productivity to biomass ratio (p:b) = 0. 07 (shorter than other types) Bogs: accumulate peat and are dominated by acidophilic mosses (notably sphagnum moss, an acid-tolerant moss) and sedges. Because of the acidity of their water, bogs have few or no trees or aquatic macrophytes. o. Since they are sustained by rainfall, bogs are dependent on replenishment by rainwater.