Photo by Amy Staffen
State Rank: S4 Global Rank: GNR what are these ranks?
Small lakes (<10Ac) with alkalinity of < 50 ppm and low pH.
The pH of this mineral-poor lake type is below neutral due to a lack of groundwater influence. Soft bog lakes typically have clear water and a firm substrate and support an oligotrophic submergent community sparsely populated by short aquatic macrophytes called isoetids. Dwarf water-milfoil (Myriophyllum tenellum), seven-angled pipe-wort (Eriocaulon aquaticum), and submersed brown-fruited rush (Juncus pelocarpus) are examples of the plant group commonly found in high-quality soft bog lakes. Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) may be associated with shallow mineral pockets. Floating lilies (Nymphaea odorata and Nuphar variegata) can usually be found along lake margins, which transition to a narrow sphagnum lawn and fringe of sedges. This, in turn, often transitions to an open bog dominated by leather-leaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), Labrador-tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum), black spruce (Picea mariana), and tamarack (Larix laricina). Because soft bog lakes are nutrient poor, they are particularly vulnerable to eutrophication. High nutrient levels can lead to dense beds of duckweeds (Lemna spp.) and water-meals (Wolfia spp.) as well as larger aquatic macrophytes like coon-tail (Ceratophyllum demersum) and common waterweed (Elodea canadensis), which can displace the smaller isoetids. Associated fish species include central mudminnow and yellow perch.
The following Species of Greatest Conservation Need are listed according to their level of association with the Lake--Soft Bog natural community type, based on the findings in Wisconsin's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan.
Scores: 3 = high association, 2 = moderate association, and 1 = low association. See the key to association scores for complete definitions.
| Amphibians | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Blanchard's Cricket Frog | Acris blanchardi | 3 |
| Mink Frog | Lithobates septentrionalis | 3 |
| Pickerel Frog | Lithobates palustris | 2 |
| Beetles | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| A Minute Moss Beetle | Ochthebius lineatus | 2 |
| Birds | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | 2 |
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | 1 |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | 1 |
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | 1 |
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | 1 |
| Caddisflies | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| A Giant Casemaker Caddisfly | Banksiola dossuaria | 2 |
| A Phryganeid Caddisfly | Beothukus complicatus | 2 |
| Dragonflies and damselflies | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Emerald | Somatochlora cingulata | 3 |
| Mottled Darner | Aeshna clepsydra | 3 |
| Pronghorn Clubtail | Gomphus graslinellus | 3 |
| Spatterdock Darner | Rhionaeschna mutata | 3 |
| Sphagnum Sprite | Nehalennia gracilis | 3 |
| Subarctic Darner | Aeshna subarctica | 3 |
| Unicorn Clubtail | Arigomphus villosipes | 3 |
| Double-striped Bluet | Enallagma basidens | 2 |
| Painted Skimmer | Libellula semifasciata | 2 |
| Slaty Skimmer | Libellula incesta | 2 |
| Spangled Skimmer | Libellula cyanea | 2 |
| Lilypad Forktail | Ischnura kellicotti | 1 |
| Fishes | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Redfin Shiner | Lythrurus umbratilis | 1 |
| Mammals | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | 3 |
| Little Brown Bat | Myotis lucifugus | 3 |
| Northern Long-eared Bat | Myotis septentrionalis | 2 |
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | 2 |
| Tricolored Bat | Perimyotis subflavus | 1 |
| Water Shrew | Sorex palustris | 1 |
| Reptiles | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Blanding's Turtle | Emydoidea blandingii | 3 |
| Eastern Ribbonsnake | Thamnophis sauritus | 3 |
| Wood Turtle | Glyptemys insculpta | 2 |
| Western Ribbonsnake | Thamnophis proximus | 1 |
Please see Section 2. Approach and Methods of the Wildlife Action Plan to learn how this information was developed.
The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Eleocharis robbinsii | Robbins' Spike-rush | 2 |
| Potamogeton bicupulatus | Snail-seed Pondweed | 2 |
| Potamogeton confervoides | Algae-leaved Pondweed | 3 |
| Potamogeton diversifolius | Water-thread Pondweed | 1 |
| Potamogeton oakesianus | Oakes' Pondweed | 1 |
| Potamogeton pulcher | Spotted Pondweed | 2 |
The following Ecological Landscapes have the best opportunities to manage for Lake--Soft Bog, based on the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.
| Ecological Landscape | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Central Sand Hills | Important |
| Forest Transition | Important |
| Northeast Sands | Important |
| Central Lake Michigan Coastal | Present |
| Central Sand Plains | Present |
| North Central Forest | Present |
| Northern Highland | Present |
| Northern Lake Michigan Coastal | Present |
| Northwest Lowlands | Present |
| Northwest Sands | Present |
| Superior Coastal Plain | Present |
Major (3 on map)
A major opportunity for sustaining the natural community in the Ecological Landscape exists, either because many significant occurrences of the natural community have been recorded in the landscape or major restoration activities are likely to be successful maintaining the community's composition, structure, and ecological function over a longer period of time.
Important (2 on map)
Although the natural community does not occur extensively or commonly in the Ecological Landscape, one to several occurrences do occur and are important in sustaining the community in the state. In some cases, important opportunities may exist because the natural community may be restricted to just one or a few Ecological Landscapes within the state and there may be a lack of opportunities elsewhere.
Present (1 on map)
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.
Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the WWAP because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.
Threats/issues and conservations actions for natural communities
Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating your photos to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use
Extensive acid conifer swamp heavily dominated by black spruce surrounds this remote undeveloped bog lake on or near the Flambeau River SF.
Photo by Eric Epstein.
Tula Lake SNA with poor fen and black spruce swamp.
Photo by Amy Staffen.
Note: photos are provided to illustrate various examples of natural community types. A single photograph cannot represent the range of variability inherent in a given community type. Some of these photos explicitly illustrate unusual and distinctive community variants. The community photo galleries are a work in progress that we will expand and improve in the future.