Category: Sphagnum Science
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The Biogeography of Peatlands in England
Applying GIS Mapping to Analyze the Biogeographic Characteristics of Peatland Ecosystems Peatlands are globally distributed ecosystems; however, they only occur in specific climates and physical geography around the world. Using GIS mapping, the biogeographic characteristics of blanket bog ecosystem in England were analyzed. These ecosystems are located in regions of high elevation with a climate…
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The Sphagnum Microbiome
Sphagnum tissues are comprised of two types of cell: living photosynthetic cells, and dead hyaline cells[7]. As well as making Sphagnum highly efficient at absorbing and storing water, the hyaline cells also act as apartments for microorganisms to live in, sheltered from the harsh acidic conditions of the bog[2]. The Sphagnum microbiome, the community of…
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Sphagnum & Nitrogen
Peatlands are characterized as “nutrient poor” ecosystems[6]. This is because the acidic soils tend to be hostile to microbial life that would otherwise break down organic matter, making essential nutrients such as nitrogen available for plants to take up through their roots[7]. Peatlands produce and store huge amounts of biomass though, so the plants in…
The Mossy Log 