Hobbies And Interests
Northern Bogs
Northern bogs form in areas of cold temperatures and high humidity. The Upper Great Lakes region and Alaska have the highest concentration of northern bogs in the United States. Many formed at the site of old glacial lakes. Some people think of bogs as moss-covered shallow ponds. However, bogs can have open water and may have little to no moss. Bogs with a large amount of sphagnum moss are particularly acidic.
Northern Bog Ecosystem
The low pH of the soil and water in northern bogs provides habitat for acid-loving plants such as pitcher plants and sundew. Both are carnivorous and trap insects in their leaves. Animals that rely on these wetlands include bog lemmings, sandhilll cranes and the spotted turtle. Bogs prevent flooding by absorbing precipitation after heavy rains or snow.
Pocosins
Pocosins range from Virginia to Florida, although most are in North Carolina. Pocosins receive water from precipitation. However, unlike northern bogs, the water is not usually visible and pocosins are characterized by dense trees and shrubs. The soil and peat stay moist from water just below the surface. During droughts, the peat dries up and wildfires may burn a pocosin. These burns increase the diversity of plants and ensure the health of the wetland.
Pocosin Ecosystem
Pocosins are some of the last undeveloped lands in the Southeast. They provide habitat to animals that prefer undisturbed areas, like the red-cockaded woodpecker and the red wolf, both of which are endangered. Like northern bogs, pocosins provide the acid conditions preferred by pitcher plants. Pocosins filter water for other habitats--such as estuaries and rivers--downstream.