A Limnological Study of a Retrograding Bog Lake

Abstract

This paper is the third of a series dealing with the limnological features of different types of bog lakes in northern Michigan. For certain general statements concerning the work of which this paper represents a part, the two previous papers (Welch '36a, 36b) should be consulted. The bog lake here described is known locally as Vincent Lake and is situated largely in the eastern part of section 17, Munro Township, Cheboygan County, Michigan, about one-third of a mile from the north shore of Douglas Lake. Its location in relation to adjacent lakes is shown in a map published by Eggleton ('35). Because of its proximity to the University of Michigan Biological Station, it has been studied from various standpoints by Station investigators over a period of about twenty-five years (see bibliography). Of the literature listed the publications of Brown and Jewell ('26), Eggleton ('35), Jewell and Brown ('24, '29), and Welch ('35) present data of a more strictly limnological nature but do not consider this lake in its entirety. The unpublished paper by Gorham contains additional limnological information. This paper is the first attempt to deal with the lake as a whole and is based upon data secured over a period of about fifteen years. Because of the inaccessibility of this lake during the winter, this study has of necessity been confined almost entirely to the late spring, summer, and early autumn seasons. Only in one instance (1933-1934) were data secured for the late autumn, winter, and early spring. The circumstance which sets this lake apart from the other numerous bog lakes of the region in which it occurs is the reversal of that type of environmental succession which is usually so constant a feature in northern bog lakes. No adequate limnological term seems to be available to designate this reversal, therefore the writer chooses to refer to this condition as a retrogression since, as will be shown later, it appears to present a gradual reversion in the direction of an earlier condition.