bog

A bog is a type of peatland, a waterlogged wetland found in cool, humid regions where plant material accumulates as peat because decay proceeds slowly. Most bogs are ombrotrophic, receiving water and nutrients primarily from precipitation rather than groundwater. This makes them acidic and nutrient-poor. Sphagnum moss is a dominant peat-forming plant, and its growth maintains acidity and waterlogging, promoting peat accumulation that can span millennia.

Vegetation in bogs varies by region but commonly includes ericaceous shrubs, cotton grasses (Eriophorum), and, in many areas, carnivorous plants such as sundews and pitcher plants that exploit low-nutrient conditions. Trees are generally absent or limited to the bog margins.

Bogs are important carbon stores; peat layers can be thousands of years old and contain large quantities of stored carbon. Disturbance from drainage, peat extraction, or fire increases peat decomposition, releasing carbon dioxide and methane and reducing the bog’s capacity to sequester carbon.

Distinctions from other wetlands are notable. Fens are minerotrophic, receiving groundwater and mineral nutrients, and are typically less acidic. Bogs are more acidic and more dependent on rainwater. Bogs occur in many northern latitudes, including parts of North America, Northern Europe, and Asia.

Conservation and restoration efforts focus on rewetting drained peatlands, restoring natural hydrology, and reestablishing native vegetation to recover ecosystem function. Peat has historically been mined for fuel and horticulture, but extraction disrupts bog processes and ecosystem services.