Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Field Herpetologists, Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre. M.J. Oldham, C. Seburn and D. Seburn. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Field Herpetologists, Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre. Bog A bog is a peatland with the water table at or near the surface. The surface often rises above the surrounding terrain.
Bogs are strongly acidic and extremely nutrient poor.
The peat layer is usually greater than 40cm and they are usually covered with Sphagnum spp. Bogs may have tree growth or be open. A fen is a peatland with the water table at or just above the surface. There is very slow drainage by seepage. Fen are more nutrient rich than bogs due to drainage from upslope mineral water.