Bogs

Bogs, also known as mires, are unique wetlands that are dominated by Sphagnum (peat) moss, which creates a unique, abiotic environment. Many bogs do not have water inlets or outlets; rainfall may be the only source of new water (paludification). These Sphagnum mosses have an amazing ability to retain water in their leaves (through special cells call hyaline). Peat moss also changes the water chemistry by releasing hydrogen ions which lower the pH of the bog (i.e. making it acidic). This acidification strips the bog of minerals, and also interferes with the water and mineral absorption abilities of other plants living in or attempting to establish themselves in this wetland (similar to acid rain effects). Therefore, a bog is an unique wetland that is infertile and acidic, that has species that are endemic to them.

In bogs, some specialized plants, such as carnivorous plants, have evolved the ability to capture and digest invertebrates (mostly insects). This is an adaptation to supplement their mineral intake, in these infertile boggy environments.

Other bog plants, such as terrestrial orchids and cranberry plants, grow on limited minerals and deal with the water absorption problem with other adaptations to prevent water loss. For example, the leaves of these plants may be very small and tough, similar to adaptations in desert plants.

Summary features

Peat-forming wetland; usually Sphagnum moss
Acidic waters and substrate
Low mineral content; infertile environment
Plants with adaptations to capture insects (e.g. Venus' Fly Trap, Pitcher Plants, etc.)
- See the Carnivorous plants webpage
Plants with adaptations to retain water in a wetland env't (e.g. Kalmia, Vaccinium)

Additional Resources

Global peatlands revealed as critical frontier in fight against climate change (Phys.org 18Dec2025)
Your next puffer jacket could be made from bulrushes, as carbon-storing peat farming takes off (The Conversation 16Dec2025)
Climate change threatens Europe's remaining peatlands (Phys.org 6Dec2025)

└Shifting climate boundaries for European peatlands (Tahitu et al., 2025)

Degraded peatlands emit nearly twice as much greenhouse gas as previously thought (Phys.org 3Dec2025)

└Identifying hotspots of greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands in the European Union (Giersbergen et al., 2025)

Ancient alliance between woody plants and microbes has potential to protect precious peatlands (Phys.org 4Aug2025)

└Zhang et al. (2025) Microbial responses to changing plant community protect peatland carbon stores during Holocene drying

Raised bogs and fens: Nature's carbon vaults need different care (Phys.org 29Jul2025)

└Pierce et al. (2025) Assessing localised rainfall and water table depth relationships in agricultural grassland peat soils

Healthy European peatlands require specific temperature and water level parameters (Phys.org 23Jul2025)

└Swindles et al. (2025) Climate and water-table levels regulate peat accumulation rates across Europe

Ignoring peatlands could derail climate goals (Phys.org 2Jul2025)

└Zhu et al. (2025) Warming of northern peatlands increases the global temperature overshoot challenge

Peatlands' carbon capture potential increases with rising temperatures (Phys.org 20Mar2025)

└Hamard et al (2025) Microbial photosynthesis mitigates carbon loss from northern peatlands under warming

What the Ancient Bog Bodies Knew (NY Times 30Jan2023)
Bog Bodies are starting to reveal their secrets (Smithsonian May 2017)
Bog Butter (Smithsonian 2016)
Giant Floating Bog (Altas Obscura 2018)

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