Freshwater Habitats

Swamps and Bogs

Swamps and bogs are special kinds of inland water places. A swamp is a wetland that is formed when river water collects in a shallow and flat land area. The collected water flows into a river or stream but very slowly.

Aquatic plants like kangkong, cypress, papyrus, and round-leaved crowfoot grow in swamps. Most of these plants grow their roots in water, but with their stems rising above it. Some trees are able to survive in this habitat because of the presence of oxygen and nutrients in swamps. These include mangrove trees, which have special roots that take in the oxygen that they need from the water. Their roots have hollow middle parts that allow the air to flow from the water to the roots.

A bog is a wetland that contains water that is stagnant. It has no drainage or inflow, causing its water to stay only in the area and producing peat. Peat is a mixture of decomposed plant materials that accumulate in a water-saturated environment such as a bog. Peat deposits start developing when the plants in the bog die and decay, turning the water acidic. Soil that has peat is low in mineral content and other nutrients that are necessary for plants to survive.

Among the plants that are adapted to bogs are those that are called insectivorous, or plants that capture and digest insects that are rich in nitrogen. Insects like mosquitoes thrive in bogs.

Other plants that live in bogs include blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, huckleberries, and sphagnum mosses.