"Unconditionally guaranteed"

Probably it's more intentional than coincidential nearly half  from these stories about Fennoscandian insect been of the butterflies. The butterflies fx are among most easily tolerated insect species of the human point-of-view - Quite differing on that from the example at that former sequel about coastal areas. However, this post takes brief look for an environment populated by various insect, along many invertebrates, there occurs also fx amphibians, birds, etc.; The environment referred being the marshland. (Due because this post also is somewhat plentiful of words, presented on it's own sequel too.)

　

The Fennoscandian marshes are most distinguishable from their great variety of bio-types. The ecologic literature separates nearly as many marshtypes (precisely 72) than there is various different forest environments (about over 80). There are (fx) so called open bogs, and marshes that can grow some trees (but scarcely). Common terms on English are fx Swamps, backwoods, bogs, fens...depending from whatever more specifically meant or the from the ecological criteria used; But generally their places recognized for the marshlands. (I guess, that the bogs possibly appears closest term from common English, but also on Fennoscandia many marshtype differs from that much, and the variety of the biological terminology actually was developed to distinguish between that variety...So for simplicity reasons we at this mostly just use on the word marshes). Worth mention, perhaps, that it's not surprising find on some very old European maps and documents the region described for the marshlands (alternating with description as 'the forested wilderness') .

And, noticeable also (is)  that the marshes on North Fennoscandia considerably differ from their counterparts at the more Southern regions (Now the Lappland mentioned, one can't then leave completely out of mention at this text the blackflies, renown little insect nuisances and most populous at those regions on a certain periods from year...)

There's many ways how marshes can form, but the resulting peatland is typically moisturic, ecologically relative harsh environment.  Yet, on marshes grow fx many very appreciated, valuable berries – most renown being probably the Arctic Cloudberry (Rubus Chamaemorus). Mainly grows at the Lappland (...favoring mostly colder climates and the berry ripening at Autumn. Noticeably, it is especially considered a berry of the marshes and so many from it's various names on Finnish ('Suomuurain', fx) contain a prefix for the marshes.) Then there's various other popular berries at marshes (most belong to Ericaceae, ie them are small shrub-plant and ground level twigs of heathers). Mainly them favor rather moisturic soil but some as well are common to grow on the nearby forests; Very typical for natural marshes are fx Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycocos), then there's Northern bilbong (V. Uligonosum), Blueberry (V. myrtillus), Lingonberry /Cowberry (V. Vitis-idaea). ...To name some of the most popular. On the other hand - one can also find from marsh many poisonic plants; (ao) there's fx Ledum palustre, Andromeda polifolia (ie; 'Bog rosemary'), Equisetum palustre, Calla palustris ('Bog Arum'), Myrica gale ('Bog Myrtle'), Deucedenum palustre... Some of the mentioned also have traditionally been plants at the human uses, for it sometimes varies what parts of the plant contain toxics, and by which amounts; Fx, it is said flowering of the Bog Arum being very toxic, but the leaves (/and some other parts) having in the past been used for the flours, at places.

Also, not perhaps surprisingly, the marshes are said forming probably oldest environments at Fennoscandia (or, some that have remained least disturbed by the human efforts since the retreat of ice from N. Europe, closely over 9000 years ago, about.) ...As some kind reminder from this aspect is the capability of marshes for to preserve wooden artefacts and materials. Among other things some old wooden boats, parts of ancient sledges, ao, have been found from the marshland soils. These prehistoric equipments - due because having sunk there and remained on little decayed condition - have sometimes been dated very old by origin...Old by the human timescales/perspective, of course.

All the aforementioned considered, noticeably marshes are some from most unique environments on the Fennoscandian Nature.

Or, they were and remained so until rather recent of times, about the late 20th century. Nowadays (fx) fewer parts from the original marshlands at South Finland remain, at least in their natural condition. (It is said that about some 75 per cent from those appears drainaged, and major part was for the forestry purposes). Ecologically considering during very brief period, mostly just from 1960 until about mid 80s (the drainage been most intensive between 1965-75). There's been some uses of peat for heating (/energy source) from since the 19th century (at least), but the majority of that ecologic conversion is by the recent timing. Kind of an abrupt enviromental decline, if observed from it's main ecological consequences, ( - A process, sometimes on environmentalist literature described for the worst environmental disaster ever having taken place at the Finlands nature...If one can - or would,  at this case - point out any rapid and separately observed singular process.) Results of that were and are more wide-reaching than one would at first place think. (Mostly, all this seems just tell of the failure not to recognize any actual value of the Nature itself, and neglect of see/place any value on a view-point that there should be places where the human purposes not need extend for in the first place.)

From the North (Lapplands) marshes mostly weren't converted nearly to similar levels. In the North wood fx grows much slower, so it would not even have brought any gains on economic forestry purposes. (Additionally, it seems also vary considerably from how well the trees appear grow – or, not to grow – on any of the former natural marshes and soils from the S.Fennoscandias). On the Lapplands case one then also sometimes sees mentioned of the various other typical human purposes which have often been shown having had negative effects for the original wetlands ecology; The mining purposes, the uses of peat (at energy production), perhaps the most often noticed some. (Both represent some causes of ecological harms at various parts of the world, too;  The other polluting to water systems and the latter from being harmful due because climatic reasons...ao aspects.)

Insects are also usually mentioned example, for there are several marshes-dependent species, and, consequetly several suffered of the described (developments). Also, some that were rather common earlier on S. Fennoscandia having declined. Examples observed of the several insect main orders; (fx, the Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Araknea, all contain some that having become lot scarcer, resultatively) ...In fact, there's also species that aren't/weren't classed for the threatened just due because the larger parts from the Northern marshes remained (mostly) free of the drainages.

More generally, the largest change was seen at the changes on ecology from the open bogs (or the significant decline of those). So, there's also fx various common marshland plants that were found from noticeably decline, and resultatively also replaced by somewhat differing vegetation Seems it said that of the Finlands natural plants, some 25 per cent appear species by origin to  grow on  marshes (or closely similar types from environments).

...From since the 1990s the drainages from any new area to forestry uses seems said (practically) having halted, but ecological consequences remain on effect. There still is (a few, but some) remaining larger natural marshlands on S.Fennoscandia, and naturally them are nowadays mostly protected. Also, the Fennoscandian forests contain various parts of the 'semi-marsh lands'; ie there's places on the main forests with somewhat moisturic, swampy soil prevailing. Or perhaps even more typical are some places where edges of the shallower lakes and ponds form resembling smaller regions of a 'marsh-like' environment, limiting for the adjacent forests. Sometimes it's (relative) easy find a that kind place of the forest from a few minutes walk. Yet, much less of those on the S. Finlands part nowadays than some 50 years (or about) ago.

All things considered, afterwards viewing these developments (like we're doing on this), it leaves as topmost feeling an impression from a very unconditional determinism...But the same can of course be said of the most human developments that seek of to maximize uses from the natural resource(s).

(And, of course, there's also nowadays efforts of restoration the former natural ecology from those places, actually. Also, there's restoration from various other types of environments, where ecology has been disturbed from the forestry development, or from since the longer at pasts; The natural springs, et similar watery sources, not too common nowadays on the original condition at S. Fennoscandias and therefore also referred on this.)

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The butterflies - and the daytime butterflies by some amount - are among the most numerous insect genera by species, so it's expectable to find them from marshes too. For this we basically also could have selected any species more considerably affected by the drainage of marshes. (But I've not had too much a chance to visit any marsh on summer, neither having any suitable pic of those).

Cranberry blue 
(..See the inner oversides from wings,
 the photo can hardly catch the actual colour....)  

So, this exemplary selection – like most of the insects and plants presented on our series – is generally quite common a species (in particular on the Lapplands marshy regions, where it is said possible encounter at most everyplaces.). Many of the Lycaenids – group from those little blue-winged butterflies usual at meadows, flowering fields and forest – appear more variable by their pattern and decorative on wings underside, but it wasn't any difficulty selecting this particular some. (I think) the Cranberry Blue (Vaccacinae optilete) has most beautiful colours on the overside from it's wings. There's some nice purple, the edges are more typically blue, like usual on most Lycaenids.  Though, on the females the oversides are mainly brown (and the part closer insect body more blueish than at males). (...Another nice little species to observe beautiful colours of butterly wing, more typically flying on all kinds of drier places of forest/hillsides, is the Green Hair-streak (Callophrys rubi). As it's even smaller species you need to look close, though. Actually, camera is most useful to have along for the purpose. Lycaenids, typically fly shorter distances than some larger butterflies, although them tend also take onwards quite rapidly too...)

(Cranberry Blue) appears probably the species most adapted for the marshes from these small blueish Lycaenid. (And), it is also most dependent from them for moisturic environments (I've fx noticed it present nearer the relative moisturic backwoods, or close by the lakesides with some bogs; Perhaps most typical places to it in during the summery time of flight, or seems to me so). ...Main reason, is that on the mentioned places also often grow Northern Bilbongs, usual food plant of it's caterpillars. (In that sense the English name may be little misleading, although maybe the caterpillars main food plant differs on other regions where it appears). But, from that part I guess it makes typical example, more or less, from an Oligophagy. (...The species seems also said quite invariably to use related common small shrubs, especially the Blueberry… and Cranberry.).

On elsewhere Europes many Lycaenids common from Fennoscandian range have more 'limited' appearance – like this Cranberry Blue, fx. There's also various that don't have presence on N. European part at all. Some that live on resembling environment are (perhaps) species Maculinea teleius and M. Alcon, usually found at similar mountaneous areas at the Mid-Europes (or at least somewhat resembling by the environments preferences...or seems to me so. ;Anyway, them have no presence at the Fennoscandian part). However, I also kind of calculated that solely on Finlands Nature appears there about two thirds of the North European  Lycaenids. Also is found some that've quite recently spread there – the most usual given reason is the expected accelerated warming.

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...Of the plant, we have a selection from flowers (Orchids, namely). At the world-wide spread family from Orchidaceae there's many flowers adapted to moisturous lands/soil. So them are generally rather common on Fennoscandia too, where is still relative much natural marsh- and wetlands. This selection, Dactylorhiza maculata - the Moorland Orchid, or the Spotted heath Orchid, apparently from it's name(s) on English - is perhaps commonest from natural orchid at Fennoscandian nature (It also has quite wide range on elsewere Europes, more typically grows on the mountains region and similar environment from the Central European part, seems it said.)

(On Europe, the Orchids are most numerous and rich of variety on Mediterranean regions; There occurs most of the endemic species in the World. Even, if compared to some other 'bio-diversity hot-spots' elsewhere. At Mediterranean there is also some most spectacular and colourful of the species, although, many also are classed to threatened (and/ot for endangered , vulnerable, etc., ) Globally, there's also large number threatened Orchid-species, IUCN seems to have big list of them. ...And, like often from plant, some species from generally wider range may sometimes be locally declined by populations. Apparently some examle (fx) is the Creeping ladies tresses (G.repens) from the Scottands forests and highland as the species seems said to have range over the Eurasia and N. Americas, but is locally scarce.)

On Finland part, occurs there some close species to the D. Maculata, which are more particularly adapted to marsh environments, and - like expectable - them also were found lot more affected by the caused ecological changes on marshlands. Some typical Marsh orchids are fx the Dactylorhiza incarnata (the sbps cruenta and incarnata), both said become scarcer on Mid- and s. Fennoscandias as them naturally grow particularly at the wetland soils (Major part of the places where those latter mentioned species used to grow having gotten drainaged). ...Which is a pity since their are all very impressive flowers.

Dactylorhiza maculata
...Notice the flower
petals, their variations 
 are (but slight) observable on the photo.

The particular orchid discussed, D.maculata, grows on more various places. ...Also occurs fx on the lakesides and ditches. So, wasn't not nearly similarly affected (not too common a flower, either). But relative to usual to grow on some moisturic spots of  the forests, too. 

Seems it also said that the natural variety on Orchids is quite wide: Flower bloomings at same specimen show often slight differences from the shapes, if looking more precisely. Some species of the natural Orchids also easily mix; fx the D.maculata and D.traunsteineri can mix in the Natures too (Yet, I guess that this specimen in the pic yet represent a usual breed of the regular D.maculata). Also appear that the (Orchids) can often grow via their rootgrowths, soforth on a good places it is possible find larger groups (in the best circumstances...And, I guess there would be whole more about the Orchids for an interested to learn from and about... :)

Anyway, this (limited but inspired) sequel about the Fennoscandian marshes now finishes this serie of ours. It could of course have contained several other interesting insects that are not presented Fx from the insect orders Trichoptera, Coleoptera, etc., ao.  But, any subsequent 'sequel' shall mostly be from the trees, at any case. (W-G.)

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