A patterned fen on the north shore of Lake Superior, Minnesota.

Abstract

Despite the close proximity of mineral ridges the central strings and flarks have vegetation and water chemistry indicative of poor fen rather than rich fen. Peat accumulation has apparently slowed the rate of water seepage through the central patterned area, causing a decline in forest growth where water has ponded on the surface. Flark development may have been initiated by localized flooding along the contour interval, which would then accentuate the string-flark pattern by its effect on production and decomposition rates.-from Author