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thumb|upright=1.3|Avaste Nature Reserve|Avaste Fen, Estonia. Sedges dominate the landscape. Woody shrubs and trees are sparse. thumb|upright=1.3|Wicken Fen, England. Grasses in the foreground are typical of a fen.
Article
28 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Distribution and extent
- Definition
- Canadian Wetland Classification System definition
- ''Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation'' (Keddy) definition
- ''The Biology of Peatlands'' (Rydin) definition
- Hydrology and biogeochemistry
- Hydrology
- Nutrient cycling
- Carbon
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Bog–rich-fen gradient
- Rich fens
- Poor fens
- Threats and conservation
- Threats to fens
- Conservation of fens
- Ecosystem services
- Carbon sequestration and global warming
- Biodiversity
- Water quality
- Images
- See also
- Specific fenlands
- References
- Citations
- External links
thumb|upright=1.3|Avaste Nature Reserve|Avaste Fen, Estonia. Sedges dominate the landscape. Woody shrubs and trees are sparse. thumb|upright=1.3|Wicken Fen, England. Grasses in the foreground are typical of a fen.
A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetland along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires. The unique water chemistry of fens is a result of the ground or surface water input. Typically, this input results in higher mineral concentrations and a more basic pH than found in bogs. As peat accumulates in a fen, groundwater input can be reduced or cut off, making the fen ombrotrophic rather than minerotrophic. In this way, fens can become more acidic and transition to bogs over time.