Mucky Peat Bottom

Description

These sites can either be cedar swamps or cedar bog woodlands.

Cedar swamps are closed-canopy forests in enriched peatland basins in the Northern Maine. They typically occur in small forested basins, or along lakes or streams, but may rarely occur in the enriched portions of larger peatlands where there is an influence of minerotrophic groundwater. They often occur in areas of calcareous or at least circumneutral bedrock. The soils are organic and range widely in depth of the peat. Canopy closure ranges from somewhat open to closed, and the forest floor is typically dark and cool. Shrub and herb coverage may be sparse to locally dense, with increased cover in canopy gaps. The herb layer is often diverse and scattered thinly over the abundant Bryophytes that form a mossy carpet.

Northern white-cedar bog woodlands of basin peatlands are open canopy forests in Northern Maine. They occur on shallow to deep peat in depressional wetlands in glacial till. Canopy is usually under 60% closure which allows for the development of fairly extensive dwarf-shrub and/or herbaceous layers.

Characteristics and indicators

They often occur in areas of calcareous or at least circumneutral bedrock. The soils are organic and range widely in depth of the peat. Thuja occidentalis is the canopy dominant.

Submodel

Description

Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics driven by natural disturbances, processes, and pressures (may have some anthropogenic influences). More research is needed to determine the extent of the Semi-natural state associated with this ecological site.

Submodel

Description

Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics that are primary driven by anthropogenic disturbances and pressures (may have some associated natural influences). More research is needed to determine the extent of the cultural state associated with this ecological site.

Submodel