Bear Lake Bog

           

A picture of a wetland bog from the Northern Hemisphere
Source: https://infograph.venngage.com/p/176597/bog-biome

             From lakeside dunes to old-growth white pine forests, Michigan is enriched with unique ecosystems. Although many of which have been claimed by society for agricultural and suburban means, portions of conserved land have been reserved for public recreation and admiration of wilderness. Wetland bogs are microcosms that serve as host to many unique organisms. While they used to be much more prevalent in the United States, they are still an important ecosystem in the US. This blog will expound on our class’s excursion to a bog named Bear Lake Bog.

            Bear Lake Bog is located about six miles south of Au Sable campus and is found between the East Lakes and Bear Lake. We visited this bog on May 22, 2018. We brought along a variety of equipment including aquatic nets and waders. Like most bogs, Bear Lake Bog is partially covered by a sphagnum moss mat by which plants and organisms can sufficiently survive and reproduce on. The spongy mat of moss sits atop peat, or “partially decayed plant matter” that floats to the surface (National Geographic Society). Bogs are frequently mistaken for lakes or ponds because the sphagnum moss is unsuspectingly suspended over the body of water.

            While the mat distributed our surface area pretty well, it still seeped into the water at times. I likened the bog to a trampoline, as our waders sunk into the ground after every step. As we reached the ecotonal edge of the mat, it was interesting to imagine how we were suspended over a deep pond, supported only by the resilient work of sphagnum moss. Imagination wasn’t what we came for though – Our objective was to collect macroinvertebrates amidst a dense framework of microorganisms and plants.

An example of a Sarrencia pitcher plant
http://www.nohlc.org/frog-blog/carnivorous-plants

            The dominant insects at Bear Lake Bog, at least at the time, seemed to be adult dragonflies. The dragonflies had likely recently exited the juvenile stage from the sphagnum mat’s shoreline near the middle of the bog. Some dragonflies were mating and some were likely feeding on smaller insects dwelling on the herbaceous growth above the mat. Pairs of mating dragonflies are less agile and coordinated, so they were of particular interest to us to catch when we observed them. So much so, in fact, that some of us leapt above the elastic mat through thick leatherleaf plants and young conifers as an attempt to catch an unlucky mate for our collections. 
          We also encountered terrestrial mosquitoes, flies, bees, ants, and lepidopterans. I was pleasantly surprised to come across ants, as that meant they likely developed colonies on or within the moist sphagnum moss. We also found larval/pupal mosquitos growing in pitcher plants on top of the mat. This was another interesting find, as I thought pitcher plants’ carnivorous habits were inclusive to all types of macroinvertebrates. These juvenile mosquitos must be inquiline, as pitcher plants are typically known for their insect-trapping habits. The pitcher plants' flowers in which these mosquito juveniles abide in are likely from last winter, as new flowers won't bloom until late summer. We also found macroinvertebrates abounding near the edge of the mat in the acidic bog water.

             Acidic environments like Bear Lake Bog are considered acidophiles because their corresponding conditions lead to unique flora and fauna (Wetlands Classification and Types). Bogs are generally too acidic to sustain fish and larger aquatic creatures, although we did find many leeches and tadpoles. It makes sense that the organisms should flourish because of the lack of predation, but we did notice some large spiders resting on the edge of the mat. Perhaps the spiders sit patiently on the edge, expecting an oblivious tadpole to swim by as an opportunity for a daytime snack. Among other insects, we found some whirligig beetles and water striders. Bear Lake Bog is definitely an interesting habitat as there such a broad collection of both terrestrial and aquatic organisms.

            The sphagnum moss is thick enough that leatherleaf plants and comparatively large conifers can grow sustainably. The dense vegetation on Bear Lake Bog provides homes for fellow insects and birds alike. Aside from pitcher plants and leatherleaf shrubs, there were also some comparatively large conifers growing on the mat’s edge. The niche in which all these organisms thrive on likely derives from the thick sphagnum mat. Bear Lake Bog, among many others in Michigan, is a great example of just how many organisms can be found in such a concentrated area. Hopefully this bog is preserved for future generations to enjoy and study.

Works Cited

National Geographic Society. “Bog.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/bog/.

“Wetlands Classification and Types.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sept. 2017, www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetlands-classification-and-types#bogs.