Acadian Maritime Bog Macrogroup: Northern Peatland yourStateNatural Heritage Ecologist for more information about this habitat. This is modeledmap a distributiononbased current and is data nota substitute for field inventory. based Contact © Josh Royte (The Nature Conservancy, Maine) Description: An acidic peatland dominated by dwarf-shrubs, sedges and peat-mosses, and occurring along the northern Atlantic Coast. When these form in basins, they develop raised plateaus with undulating sedge and dwarf-shrub vegetation. They also occur as "blanket bogs" over a sloping rocky substrate in extreme maritime settings. Species characteristic of this maritime setting include crowberry and baked-apple berry. Typical bog heaths such as sheep laurel, bog laurel, huckleberry, and Labrador tea are also present. The peat moss layer is extensive, with coverage usually close to 100%. The core distribution for this system is in the Canadian Maritimes, where there are some very large State Distribution: ME examples-- it is rare in the northeastern US. Total Habitat Acreage: 5,235 Ecological Setting and Natural Processes: Percent Conserved: 21.9% Large peatlands form where anaerobic saturated conditions State State GAP 1&2 GAP 3 Unsecured and a cool climate slow the decomposition of dead plant State Habitat % Acreage (acres) (acres) (acres) material (sphagnum moss), which accumulates to form an ME 100% 5,235 1,022 126 4,087 organic soil. US examples of this system are not true peatlands: peat layers are relatively thin, and occur over bedrock or other rocky substrate. Similar Habitat Types: Peatland morphology and certain coastal species distinguish these from inland raised bogs like those in the Boreal- Laurentian Bog system. The latter are true peatlands, in which deep peat layers form in basin settings. Crosswalk to State Wildlife Action Plans: Crosswalk to State Name Examples: Peatlands (ME) Heath - Crowberry Maritime Slope Bog (ME) Places to Visit this Habitat: Habitat Patch Distribution Acadia National Park | ME 3,500 Cutler Coast | ME 3,000 Great Wass Island Preserve | ME 2,500 2,000 Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge | ME 1,500 Quoddy Head State Park | ME Acres 1,000 500 0 Associated Species: Appendix lists scientific names 0 to 1 1 to 5 5 to 10 1000+ BIRDS: alder flycatcher, common yellowthroat, lincoln’s 10 to 100 sparrow, willow flycatcher, wilson’s snipe, white-throated sparrow 100 to 1000 Patch Size Classes INSECTS: Quebec emerald The average patch size for this habitat is 53 acres and the largest single patch is 206 acres. This chart shows the proportion of the habitat that is in each patch-size class. PLANTS: Swamp Birch (Betula pumila), Northern Comandra (Geocaulon lividum) Age Class Distribution 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Percent of Habitat 1 to 20 20 to 40 40 to 60 60 to 80 80 to 100100 to 140 Age (Years) This chart shows the average age of trees associated with this habitat based on forest Inventory data. For non-forested systems or small habitats the average age is Species of Concern (G1-G4): Appendix lists scientific names influenced by the surroundings. INSECTS: crowberry blue (Plebejus idas empetri) Predicted Habitat Loss to Development 5,220 5,210 5,200 Acreage 5,190 5,180 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 Decade This chart shows the predicted loss of habitat over the next five decades (19 acres) if loss continues at the same rate as 1990-2000. The average rate of loss is acres per year. Habitat Connectedness Index 60 40 20 0 Percent of Habitat 0 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 Degree of Fragmentation (0=Highly Fragmented & 100= Highly Connected) This metric measures how connected or fragmented the land directly surrounding (18 © Maine Natural Areas Program square miles) the habitat is, this the chart shows the proportion of the habitat in each connectedness class. Acadian Maritime Bog http://nature.ly/HabitatGuide.