An Ecological Study of Buckeye Lake. 49 



of oxygen, and the acidity of the bog substratum permit a large 

 accumulation of peat. The water of the Heidemoore is character- 

 istically poor in mineral salts expecially lime, and rich in organic 

 matter to which the dark color and the accumulation of gases as 

 methane and hydrogen sulphide is due. 



It is said to be a formation poor also in available nitrogen 

 compounds, for the nitrogen tho present in abundance in the 

 organic matter, is in the form of insoluble proteins "Humificirte 

 Eiweisskoerper" ; and unless decomposed by mycorhiza and bac- 

 teria cannot be used by the higher plants. Neither the low soil 

 temperature of high latitudes, the acidity of the bog water, the 

 low per cent nor the character of the inorganic salts present, 

 play, however, as important a role in determining the character 

 of a bog flora as has been until recently claimed. ^^ 



In the Cranberry bog the temperature of the peat sub- 

 stratum during the spring and summer is not lower than that of 

 other soils, and is more uniform than that of the air. The living 

 portions of stems and roots extend but a few inches below the 

 surface of the soil which is saturated with or covered with 

 water and consequently has a less variable temperature than that 

 of the overlying air. And altho Sphagnum bogs find their 

 optimum development in high temperate latitudes, being rare in 

 arctic regions and rare as far south as 40° north latitude they 

 are not unknown in lower temperate latitudes and even in the 

 subtropics. Harper^'' reports Sphagnum bogs in Florida; and in 

 discussing the formation of peat in Florida swamps and 

 bogs, says : "High temperature alone would hardly prevent the 

 formation of peat where the humidity and topography were fav- 

 orable. The scarcity of peat in the humid tropics where vegeta- 

 tion is so luxuriant can probably be explained- on topographic 

 grounds." 



The notion prevalent until two or three years ago that the 

 formation of peat is inhibited in the humid tropics by the high 

 temperature is due to the lack of discovering peat in the tropics 

 and not to its absence. Potonie'^^ reports the discovery of typical 



