Re: Water and CP

Oliver T Massey CFS (massey@hal.fmhi.usf.edu)
Wed, 1 May 1996 10:35:44 -0400 (EDT)

> > natural bogs I have seen have been seepage bogs or bogs that were
> > spring fed. Therefore they are largely watered by ground water not
> > rain water. Doesn't ground water usually have lots of minerals in
it?
> > Does the sphagnum/peat act as a biological filter and remove the
> > minerals? Has anyone ever measured the dissolved solids in bog
water?
> > If so how does it compare to well water?

That's a good question. I think the reason bogs and seeps have so few trace
elements is due to the long, slow action of the water leeching out the
minerals. These bogs and swampy areas have had all the minerals washed out by
repeated and prolonged flooding. Even a bog that seems to be land locked (for
lack of a better term) may be repeatedly flooded during the wet season. The
soils left are just very poor.

On another note, some of us in the local club visited a (new) site about
two miles from my home and found S. minor, the ubiquitous D. capillaris,
and a few utrics. This site is just across the street from an upscale
housing development, but has been purchased by the county as a land
conservation site, so maybe the plants have a chance. One thing we
commented on was the likely history of these plants. The numerous S.
minors were in much dryer conditions than I am used to seeing for S.
minor or any other Sarrs, particularly those up in the panhandle. In
the Sarr. area the soil was largely sand and black humus with no
standing water. Pine, wax myrtle and blackberries predominated, but
live oak and palmetto palm were within throwing distance in higher
areas, and ferns and cypress in lower areas. The plants were all mixed
with fairly brushy ground cover so they probably typically receive
dappled sunlight or shade. We couldn't decide if this is a site which
has experienced a slow reduction in the water ta

Tom in Fl