Composition, Vegetation and Invertebrate Differences within the Iron Springs Bog

Abstract

Our area of focus was on the Iron Springs Bog, which is unique because it is made up of two types of wetlands: fens and bogs. Therefore, the questions we investigated for this study concentrates on the water composition, vegetation and invertebrate differences between fens and bogs. We hypothesized that there would be a higher diversity of vegetation, invertebrates and higher levels of nutrients near the spring than a further distance away from the spring. Our reasoning is that if the spring within the Iron Spring Bog were to have similar characteristics like fens; then the soil should contain more nutrients and the water would be less acidic. To analyze the vegetation differences, plot sampling and transects lines were used. To examine the invertebrate differences, water samples were collected and analyzed in lab. Water compositions were investigated by using portable pH meters, portable conductivity probes, and nitrate and phosphate test kits. Based on our results, vegetation diversity was greater in the bog compared to the spring and the invertebrates were found to be more prevalent around the spring than the bog. Our hypothesis was not supported by these results, but we were able to learn more about the functions of Iron Springs Bog.