Final answer:
Northern peatlands are typically dominated by a. mosses, specifically peat moss like the Sphagnum genus, which thrive in the moist and acidic conditions of these ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Northern peatlands are typically dominated by certain types of plants that have adapted to the moist and acidic conditions found in these wetland areas. Among the options provided:
a. Mosses
b. Wildflowers
c. Woody shrubs
d. Ferns
the most accurate answer is a. mosses. Mosses are a group of non-vascular plants known as bryophytes which are particularly well-suited to the conditions found in northern peatlands.
They can absorb and retain large quantities of water, a crucial adaptation in the boggy environments of peatlands.
Specifically, peat moss, or Sphagnum, is a common genus found in these ecosystems which helps form peat as it slowly decomposes in the waterlogged conditions.