Photo: John Van Niel
Photo: John Van Niel
A shrub swamp may be considered as a succession (or transition) between a wet meadow and a forested swamp. As time passes the wet meadow begins to fill with vegetation, and as decomposition occurs the soil thickens creating high spots (called hummocks) in the water. Shrubs and small trees begin to grow on these spots. The water comes from run-off, streams and rivers, moving water in and out of the swamp during the year. Therefore, shrub swamps tend to be drier than wet meadows or forested swamps allowing water intolerant plant species to grow on the hummocks. Common plants found in a shrub swamp include alders, willows, elderberry and highbush blueberry. Look for black ducks, moose and the star-nosed mole.