Peatlands of Ohio and the Southern Great Lakes Region

Peatlands, such as bogs and fens, are living relics of the Ice Age and are complex wetland ecosystems. The peatlands of Ohio and the Southern Great Lakes Region are products of the Wisconsinan Glaciation and are essential places to protect and explore. They are home to unique flora and fauna and offer a glimpse into the natural world's beauty and splendor.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 08 March 2022
Publisher: Kent State University Press

Peatlands, particularly bogs, have captivated the human imagination for centuries, serving as living remnants of the Ice Age. In recent years, these remarkable wetland ecosystems have gained recognition for their complexity and allure. Peatlands of Ohio and the Southern Great Lakes Region delves into the captivating sphagnum peat bogs and diverse fens of the lower Great Lakes states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, southern Michigan, and the glaciated northern corners of Pennsylvania.

These peatlands, which emerged during the Wisconsinan Glaciation, are the result of plants from northern latitudes migrating southward before the advancing glacial wall. However, the retreat of the glacier after thousands of years significantly reduced the areas that maintained the unique environmental conditions necessary for these ecosystems to thrive. Nevertheless, in a few select sites, kettlehole lakes, cold alkaline hillside seeps, and springs provided a haven for remnants of peatland vegetation, allowing them to persist to this day.

Guy L. Denny, accompanied by stunning photographs by Gary Meszaros, takes readers on a detailed exploration of this habitat, shedding light on its unique environmental challenges, geological origins, and the remarkable flora and fauna that make these bogs and rich fens truly exceptional. Through captivating narratives and vivid imagery, readers will discover that kettlehole sphagnum peat bogs and rich fens are not only vital conservation areas but also awe-inspiring destinations for exploration, discovery, and the appreciation of the natural world's beauty and splendor.

Peatlands, particularly bogs, have captivated the human imagination for centuries, serving as living remnants of the Ice Age. In recent years, these remarkable wetland ecosystems have gained recognition for their complexity and allure. Peatlands of Ohio and the Southern Great Lakes Region delves into the captivating sphagnum peat bogs and diverse fens of the lower Great Lakes states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, southern Michigan, and the glaciated northern corners of Pennsylvania.

These peatlands, which emerged during the Wisconsinan Glaciation, are the result of plants from northern latitudes migrating southward before the advancing glacial wall. However, the retreat of the glacier after thousands of years significantly reduced the areas that maintained the unique environmental conditions necessary for these ecosystems to thrive. Nevertheless, in a few select sites, kettlehole lakes, cold alkaline hillside seeps, and springs provided a haven for remnants of peatland vegetation, allowing them to persist to this day.

Guy L. Denny, accompanied by stunning photographs by Gary Meszaros, takes readers on a detailed exploration of this habitat, shedding light on its unique environmental challenges, geological origins, and the remarkable flora and fauna that make these bogs and rich fens truly exceptional. Through captivating narratives and vivid imagery, readers will discover that kettlehole sphagnum peat bogs and rich fens are not only vital conservation areas but also awe-inspiring destinations for exploration, discovery, and the appreciation of the natural world's beauty and splendor.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 254 x 203 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781606354377