Abstract
We researched the chemical character and its formation mechanism of the ground water of mires as a basic study to conserve of natural mires. The researched area was Sarobetsu mire (23,000ha), in the north of Hokkaido, where its vegetation and other aspects of its nature has been gradually changing, such as the partial development of the mire into agricultural fields. This research shows that ground water of high moor bog region where Sphagnum spp. are dominant is increased only by rain water and in the ground water of the high moor bog, the decomposition of organic matter by bacteria activity is suppressed. And it was found that in the region where the conservation of mires is necessary because of invasion of Sasa palmata in the original bog vegetation, concentrations of general inorganic components and nutrients were extremely high because of their elution from clay mingled into the peat soil, inflow of water rich with nutrients from other water systems and the decomposition of the peat soil by development in the area.
