Editing Muskeg (section)

{{Short description|Bog-like ecosystem common in Arctic and boreal areas}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2007}}
{{For|the Muskeg brand of tractor snowmobiles|Bombardier Recreational Products}}
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[[File:Poplar muskeg.JPG|thumb|right|[[Populus|Poplar]] growing on muskeg]]

'''Muskeg''' ({{Langx|oj|mashkiig}}; {{langx|cr-Latn|maskīk}}; {{langx|fr|fondrière de mousse}}, lit. ''moss bog'') is a [[peat]]-forming ecosystem found in several northern climates, most commonly in [[Arctic]] and [[boreal ecosystem|boreal]] areas. Muskeg is approximately synonymous with [[bogland|bog]] or [[peatland]], and is a standard term in Canada and Alaska. The term became common in these areas because it is of [[Cree language|Cree]] origin, {{lang|cr-Latn|maskek}} ({{lang|cr-Cans|ᒪᐢᑫᐠ}}) meaning "low-lying marsh".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.creedictionary.com/search/?q=muskeg&scope=3|title=Maskek|author=Cree Dictionary|access-date=15 April 2009|archive-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605204207/http://www.creedictionary.com/search/?q=muskeg&scope=3|url-status=live}}</ref>

Muskeg consists of non-living organic material in various states of [[decomposition]] (as [[peat]]), ranging from fairly intact sphagnum [[moss]], to sedge peat, to highly decomposed [[humus]]. Pieces of [[wood]] can make up five to fifteen percent of the peat [[soil]]. The [[water table]] tends to be near the surface. The [[sphagnum]] moss forming it can hold fifteen to thirty times its own weight in water, which allows the spongy wet muskeg to also form on sloping ground.

Muskeg patches are ideal habitats for [[beaver]]s, [[pitcher plant]]s, [[agaricales|agaric mushrooms]] and a variety of other organisms.