Carmarthenshire Peat Bogs Science

Examine the formation of a peat bog. Aims Examine the formation of a peat bog.

What is a peat bog? How do you think it is formed?

There are a number of peat bogs in Carmarthenshire There are a number of peat bogs in Carmarthenshire. Some are near Brechfa and Llanfynydd. Peat bogs have a special kind of habitat with lots of interesting plant life. In the right conditions peat develops at a rate of approximately 1 mm per year so it would take 1000 years to grow 1 metre. It is important that we take action to conserve these important habitats for the future.

What kind of plants are these? Why do they only grow here? © S. Bosanquet © S. Bosanquet What kind of plants are these? Why do they only grow here?

What do plants need to grow?

When designing and planting a garden, you need to know whether the soil is acid or alkaline, as different plants thrive in different soils. The soil pH is a number that describes how acid or alkaline your soil is. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral. An acid soil has a pH value below 7.0 and above 7.0 the soil is alkaline.

The pH Scale

Many household items are either acids or alkalis too but are not hazardous. Some acids and alkalis are stronger and must be handled with care. The strength of an acid or alkali is measured on the pH scale. Neutral chemicals are pH 7, those measuring less than 7 are acid, whilst those measuring more than 7 (up to 14) are alkaline. Adding an acid to and alkaline (and vice versa) will neutralise it. Did you know that the liquid in your stomach is an acid. The acid in your stomach helps you digest your food.

What did you observe? What colour did the litmus paper/solution turn? What is the pH number of the item? 3. Is the item acid, alkaline or neutral?

What are peat bogs? Peat bogs can form in rain-fed hollows or dips in the ground which have poor drainage, and which hold water. Where the water is acid, and/or where conditions are anaerobic (without oxygen), this prevents the more usual decay of the vegetation resulting in the formation of peat. This can take place over thousands of years.

How did the peat bogs form? Organise the cards to demonstrate the creation of a peat bog

Through scientific analysis of the peat we can find out lots of information about the past. What kind of information do you think the peat bogs will reveal?

What kind of information do you think the peat bogs will reveal? Scientific analysis has found different types of pollen and remains of plants. The depth of the pollen or plants can tell us what was growing at that period of time. Atmospheric pollution from volcanoes and industry can also tell us about other significant events going on while the peat bogs were forming.

If a rare pollen was found at a depth of 6. 16 metres If a rare pollen was found at a depth of 6.16 metres. How long ago did the pollen fall into the peat bog? How much has the peat bog grown during your lifetime?

1. What threats do the peat bogs face? 2. What can we do to protect the bogs?

Homework Create a storyboard to demonstrate how you think a peat bogs has formed over time. How did it look at each different time period? Use the information you have written in your work books to help create your story board.

Fill in the blanks – Extension task Write the following into your books and fill in the blanks using the words in red. Peat is usually found where a pool fed only by ______ has filled with _____ remains over hundreds or thousands of years. Plant decay is very slow in these acidic, _______ (without air or oxygen) conditions. Layers of _______ moss (the most important peat-forming plant) and ________ fibres build up slowly into peat – about 1 mm per year! Bogs provide us with fresh _____ by filtering out air pollution and can act as _______ reducing flood risk through the storage and slow release of rain water. They can help buffer the extremes associated with ______ change by storing ______ within the peat. rainfall, plant, anaerobic, Sphagnum, Cotton-grass, water, sponges, climate, carbon