Ecology
Peatland Biodiversity in Canadian Boreal Bogs
Specialized plants, insects, and birds that have adapted to the nutrient-poor, acidic conditions of Canada's boreal peatlands — from carnivorous sundews to bog-nesting warblers.
Read articleCanadian Wetlands & Bog Ecology
Peatlands, Bogs, and the Ecology of Canada's Wet Boreal Landscape
An educational resource on the biology, hydrology, and conservation context of Canadian wetland ecosystems.
Articles
Botany
How Sphagnum Moss Shapes Bog Carbon Storage
The biology of Sphagnum and its role in building peat, acidifying water, and maintaining the conditions that allow long-term carbon accumulation in Canadian bogs.
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Hydrology
Wetland Hydrology and Water Filtration in Canada
How bogs and wetlands regulate water movement, buffer seasonal flooding, and contribute to the physical and chemical filtering of surface water in Canadian watersheds.
Read articleBackground
Canada's Peatlands: A Brief Overview
Canada contains a disproportionately large share of the world's peatland area, concentrated in the boreal and subarctic zones from British Columbia to Newfoundland. These ecosystems are defined by the slow accumulation of partly decomposed organic matter — peat — under waterlogged, anaerobic conditions. The Hudson Bay Lowlands in northern Ontario and Manitoba represent one of the largest continuous peatland complexes on Earth.
Bogs and fens each have distinct water chemistry and plant communities. Bogs receive water primarily from precipitation and develop acidic, nutrient-poor conditions dominated by Sphagnum mosses. Fens receive some input from groundwater or surface flow and support a broader range of sedge and grass species. The boundary between the two types can shift over time as peat builds up or water tables change.
Wetland conservation in Canada falls under a mixture of federal frameworks — including the federal wetland policy administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada — and provincial legislation that varies significantly by jurisdiction.