Observation In Burns Bog And Watershed Park

Human Factors The influence of humans on the three sites could play a role in the differences in vegetation as in every site, there were different affects that humans had caused. In Burns Bog, plant communities have been purposely replaced with "more beautiful" plants and dykes were built to stop flooding, run around the fields and dry the soil (Comprehensive Guide to Burns Bog). All this influences the vegetation as the soil is directly affected. In SWMA, the land has been enhanced with water level management systems (Serpentine Fen). The interior dykes can adjust the water levels and influence the vegetation in this way. However, since the management of the area has improved, the influence is less than Burns Bog. In Watershed Park, the artesian

In Burns Bog and Watershed Park, the light was blocked at certain times because of the cover of the trees. Light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis as with more sunlight, more carbon dioxide can be produced for the plants to grow. The types of vegetation is affected by light intensity as when the amount of sunlight decreases, the growth decreases as well. This is why SWMA has more grass plants such as, Aster and Colonial Bent Grass. According to the Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient, the correlation coefficient of light intensity and Aster is 0.4. Therefore, it is a positive good correlation meaning that as the light intensity increases, the growth of Aster increases (Appendix 1). The significance of the relationship is 95% accuracy. Since Burns Bog and Watershed Park have less light intensity, Aster is not normally grown

As water contains hydrogen ions, it has a scale of acidity. Life can be maintained in pH levels between 6.5 and 8.5 (Ecoscope: For Sustaining Wetlands). If the concentration of hydrogen ions becomes too great or too small, it becomes difficult for the plant to survive. Photosynthesis uses hydrogen ions which changes the pH level of the soil. In Burns Bog, there is mostly peat and therefore, the soils can survive higher acidic measures. For example, Sphagnum Moss obtains the minerals it needs (calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium) by exchanging ions with the environment (Ecoscope: For Sustaining Wetlands). Hydrogen ions are exchanged with the cell wall of Sphagnum and this is called cation exchange. Since hydrogen ions are dissolved into the water, it becomes more acidic. The Sphagnum gains it minerals this way as bogs are mineral poor. Soil that has higher rates of cation exchange are more fertile that the soil that does not. Trees such as Hemlock and Lodgepole Pine grow in the bog as well as other vegetation such as, Salal, Labrador Tea, Bog Blueberry and Hardhack, which thrive in bog conditions. In the Serpentine Fen, the soils have peat over underlying mineral layer. The organic material come from decomposing plants and the pH levels are much less acidic. The surface of this fen is dominated with grass-like plants such as, Aster, Colonial Beat Grass and Snowberry.