Kettlehole Level Bog State Rank: S2 - Imperiled

Kettlehole Level Bogs are acidic dwarf- Differentiating from shrub peatlands with little water input or Related Communities: outflow that form in circular depressions Natural communities on acidic left by meltgng ice blocks in sandy glacial peatlands all occur on sphagnum outwash; The vegetatgon in Kettlehole peat. The depth, density, and strength of the underlying peat Level Bogs usually grows in rings; control the structure and composition of each type of similar vegetation to Level Bogs, except peatland community through the that the vegetation is typically in a ringed extent that plants growing on it zonation pattern. Often the outer wet moat are isolated from nutrients is dominated by a mixture of highbush carried by ground water. In Kettlehole Level Bog with surrounding spruce blueberry and swamp azalea bordered to and larch. Photo: Patricia Swain, NHESP. Level Bogs the sphagnum peat the interior by a ring of rhodora. The mat tends to be deep and well developed, cranberries and blueberries in season. The has a mixture of tall and short shrubs that Description: Kettlehole Level Bogs graminoids may be present but not acidity of the surface of Kettlehole Level are predominantly ericaceous (members are a subset of Level Bog that develop in dominant, and shrubs are dominated by Bogs make them poor habitat for most of the Heath family). Leatherleaf is isolated valley bottoms without inlets or leatherleaf. Kettlehole Level Bogs are a amphibians and reptiles, although some dominant. Other typical ericaceous shrubs outlets. Kettlehole Level Bogs are subset of Level Bogs that occur in species can breed in the shallow pools that include rhodora, sheep laurel, bog laurel, peatlands - wetlands with incompletely kettleholes in sandy glacial outwash. They form among the sphagnum hummocks. bog-rosemary, Labrador tea (northern decomposed plant material (peat) that are typically small (<3 acres), round, and Many species of dragonflies and sites), and low-growing large and small accumulates when saturated year round by they lack inlets and outlets. Atlantic damselflies inhabit acidic peatlands, cranberry. Scattered, stunted coniferous water that is cool, acidic, poorly White Cedar Bogs have sparse canopy especially where there is adjacent open trees (primarily tamarack and black oxygenated, and low in nutrients. The peat cover of Atlantic white cedar trees over water. spruce) occur throughout. A mixture of isolates them from the water table, sphagnum on peat. Acidic Graminoid specialized bog plants grow on the making them the most acidic (pH range 3 Fens are dominated by graminoid and Examples with public access: hummocky sphagnum surface, including to 4), and nutrient-poor of peatland herbaceous species and lack extensive Bog surfaces are damaged by trampling; carnivorous pitcher plants and sundews. communities. The word “level” shrubs. Spruce - Tamarack Bogs are sites with boardwalks are best suited to Many of the kettlehole bogs observed in differentiates Massachusetts’ bogs from acidic forested peatlands with an visitation. the state have drier and more stable raised bogs of more northern latitudes overstory of black spruce and tamarack. where peat becomes so thick that sphagnum mats than level bogs not in precipitation is the only source of kettleholes, and they have abundant bog Habitat for associated fauna: Due nutrients. Massachusetts’ climate is not laurel and three-leaved Solomon's seal. to the extended periods of saturation, lack cold enough to develop raised bogs; the of nutrients, and the high acidity and low state is at the southern limit of the oxygen content of the water, acidic geographic range of peatlands. peatlands are inhospitable to many animal species. Winged and mobile terrestrial Characteristic Species: Sphagnum Bog laurel, animals can use peatlands as part of their moss is the most common plant in all often abundant habitat. Moose and white-tailed deer use in Kettlehole acidic peatlands, forming a mat that the acidic peatlands for browsing and grazing, vascular plants grow on, and producing Level Bogs. Photo: Patricia and their trails are often evident across the most of the peat that underlies the Swain, peat mat. Bears are attracted to the Kettlehole Level Bog with vegetation zones. community. Kettlehole Level Bogs have NHESP. Photo: Patricia Swain, NHESP.

From: Classification of Natural Communities of Massachusetts htthttpp://www;mass;gov/nhesp/://www;mass;gov/nhesp/ Updated: 2016 Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Division of FishFisheeriesries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd;, Westborough, M! 01581 (508) 389-6360