What is a fen?
Q: What is a fen?
A: A fen is one of the four main types of wetland, usually fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater. It has neutral or alkaline water, with relatively high dissolved mineral levels but few other plant nutrients.
Q: What type of plants are typically found in a fen?
A: Fens are usually dominated by grasses and sedges, and typically have brown mosses such as Scorpidium or Drepanocladus. They may also contain carnivorous plants such as Pinguicula.
Q: How do individual species of fen plants vary?
A: The distribution of individual species of fen plants is often closely connected to water regimes and nutrient concentrations.
Q: How does a fen differ from a bog?
A: Fens are distinguished from bogs, which are acidic, low in minerals, and usually dominated by sedges and shrubs, with abundant Sphagnum mosses.
Q: What damage has been done to some fens in the past?
A: Some fens have been damaged in the past by land drainage and peat cutting.
Q: How can these damaged areas be restored?
A: Damaged areas can be restored with modern management methods that focus on restoring natural water flow regimes, maintaining the quality of water, and preventing invasion by woody plants.
Q: What are "fen indicator species"? A: Fen indicator species are certain plant species that provide the best indicators of environmental conditions within a given area.
