March 23, 2012
Animals that can be found in peat-lands are classified in three different compartments which include the aquatic components of the open water pools, the terrestrial fauna that range between the peat-land and the terrestrial fauna that are found within the peat-land itself. Many animals or birds will travel to these areas because peat-land supplies a source of food and water. Today, we are going to discuss arthropods, flatworms, amphibians/reptiles, birds and mammals.
Picture from: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/bogosphere/
Arthropods: consist of centipedes, millipedes, spiders, insects and crustaceans. This category can be broken down into several different ecological groups such as aquatic arthropods living in temporary waters, or permanent fen or bog pools.
Flatworms: the typical flatworms that can be found in peat-lands are the Catenulida group. There are roughly 20 different species of flatworms that can be located in peat-lands and several hundred can be removed from a handful of moss.
Picture from: http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/flatworm.htm
Amphibians/Reptiles: peat-lands are important for frogs, salamanders and toads because they need wet habitats. Reptiles that can be found in frequent bogs, swamps or fens are the painted turtle, spotted turtle, the common garter snake, eastern ribbon snake and both the small lizard and the adder.
Birds: a wide diversity of birds can be found in peat-lands which include the common crane, sandhill crane, woodpeckers, the Eurasian black grouse, rustic bunting, spruce grouse, European hazel grouse, the Eurasian woodcock, just to name a few!
The Eurasian Black Grouse (picture from: http://ibc.lynxeds.com/files/pictures/Tetras_lyre_2007.4018.DVD_31..jpg)
Mammals: swamps and fens are very important because they are feeding grounds for larger animals and small rodents. Some mammals that can be found in peat-lands are white-tailed deer, muskrat andbeavers.
Work Cited:
Rydin, H., & Jeglum, J. (2006). The Biology of Peatlands. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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