Level Bog State Rank: S3 - Vulnerable

growing on it are isolated from Level Bogs are dwarf-shrub peatlands, nutrients carried by ground water. generally with pronounced hummocks In Level Bogs the sphagnum peat and hollows in sphagnum moss; These tends to be deep and well wetland communities are very acidic and developed, graminoids may be nutrient-poor because the peat isolates present but not dominant, and them from nutrients in groundwater and shrubs are dominated by streams; leatherleaf. Kettlehole Level Bogs are a subset of Level Bogs and short shrubs that are predominantly in that occur in kettleholes in sandy the heath family. Leatherleaf is dominant glacial outwash. They are with other shrubs typically including typically small (<3 acres), round, rhodora, sheep laurel, bog laurel, bog and they lack inlets and outlets. rosemary, Labrador tea, highbush Atlantic White Cedar Bogs have blueberry, and low-growing large and sparse canopy cover of Atlantic white oxygen content of Level Bogs make them Level Bog with rhodora in flower, leatherleaf and small cranberry. Scattered, stunted trees scattered larch. Photo: Steven Roble, NHESP. cedar trees over sphagnum on peat. poor habitat for most amphibians and (primarily tamarack and black spruce, Acidic Graminoid Fens are dominated by reptiles, although some species can breed Description: Level Bogs are peatlands with red maple saplings) occur graminoid and herbaceous species and in the shallow pools that form among the - wetlands with incompletely decomposed throughout. A mixture of specialized bog lack extensive shrubs. Sea-level Fens sphagnum hummocks. Many species of plant material (peat) that accumulates plants grow on the hummocky sphagnum occupy the interface between estuarine dragonflies and damselflies inhabit acidic when saturated year round by water that is surface, including carnivorous pitcher marshes and upland, and include both peatlands, especially where there is cool, acidic, poorly oxygenated, and low plants and sundews. estuarine and palustrine species. adjacent open water. in nutrients. They receive little or no Differentiating from Related Interdunal Marsh/Swales occur as part of stream flow and they are isolated from the a coastal dune system. Some are fen-like Examples with Public Access: water table, making them the most acidic Communities: Natural communities on shallow peat, but occurring in dune Bog surfaces are damaged by trampling; (pH ~3 to 4), and nutrient-poor of on acidic peatlands all occur on sphagnum systems is the defining characteristic. sites with boardwalks are best suited to peatland communities. Level bogs peat. The depth, density, and strength of Acidic Shrub Fens (ASF) are composed visitation such as Ponkapoag Bog (DCR), develop along pond margins, at the the underlying peat control the structure primarily of low-growing, interwoven Canton; Poutwater Pond (DCR), Sterling; headwaters of streams, and in pockets and composition of each type of peatland shrubs. ASF are wetter with a less well- Black Pond Nature Preserve (TNC), within large basins. The word “level” is community through the extent that plants developed sphagnum mat than other Norwell; Hawley Bog, Hawley. used to differentiate Massachusetts’ bogs acidic peatlands. Spruce-Tamarack Bogs from the raised bogs of more northern are acidic forested peatlands with an latitudes where peat becomes so thick that overstory of black spruce and tamarack. the only way nutrients enter the system is through precipitation. Massachusetts’ Habitat for Associated Fauna: climate is not cold enough for raised bogs Acidic peatlands are inhospitable to many to develop. animal species. Winged animals and large terrestrial animals can use peatlands as Characteristic Species: Sphagnum part of their habitat. Moose and white- is the most common plant in all acidic tailed deer use acidic peatlands for peatlands, forming a mat that the vascular browsing and grazing, and their trails are plants grow on, and producing most of the often evident across the peat mat. Bears peat that underlies the community. Level Cranberry on a sphagnum mat. Photo: Steven are attracted to the cranberries and Level Bog hummocks and hollows with larch. Bogs are characterized by a mixture of tall Roble, NHESP. blueberries in season. The acidity and low Photo: Steven Roble, 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