wetlands andrea berry shiawassee conservation district
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WetlandsWetlands
Andrea BerryAndrea BerryShiawassee Conservation Shiawassee Conservation DistrictDistrict
WetlandsWetlands
An area with saturated soils for at An area with saturated soils for at least part of the yearleast part of the year Hydric soils:Hydric soils: lack free oxygen lack free oxygen
Support an abundance of wildlife Support an abundance of wildlife Birds, fish, mammals, plants, etc.Birds, fish, mammals, plants, etc. Breeding grounds for many animalsBreeding grounds for many animals
Store and slowly release filtered Store and slowly release filtered waterwater
Formation of WetlandsFormation of Wetlands
Runoff from rain travels over land Runoff from rain travels over land until it collects in a low spot (pond, until it collects in a low spot (pond, river, lake)river, lake)
The surrounding saturated land The surrounding saturated land forms a wetlandforms a wetland
Also formed and fed by Also formed and fed by groundwatergroundwater
Function of WetlandsFunction of Wetlands
Hold and store waterHold and store water Slowly release stored water Slowly release stored water Filter water removing pollutantsFilter water removing pollutants Standing water attracts organisms Standing water attracts organisms
& contributes to the & contributes to the Food ChainFood Chain Insects for birds and mammals to eatInsects for birds and mammals to eat Aquatic organisms for fish to eatAquatic organisms for fish to eat Fish for larger organisms to eatFish for larger organisms to eat
BogsBogs
Boreal – cold environments Boreal – cold environments Acidic peat – deposits of dead Acidic peat – deposits of dead
plant materialplant material Low in nutrients – plants have Low in nutrients – plants have
adaptedadapted Peat – used to heat homes & in Peat – used to heat homes & in
gardens to retain moisture in soil gardens to retain moisture in soil
MangroveMangrove
Tropical coastal zonesTropical coastal zones Soils are saline & water-logged Soils are saline & water-logged Mangrove plants stabilize soilsMangrove plants stabilize soils Act as a natural buffer to winds Act as a natural buffer to winds
and wavesand waves Plants have adapted to saline Plants have adapted to saline
waterwater
MarshesMarshes
Dominated by herbaceous plants Dominated by herbaceous plants and shallow waterand shallow water
Contains fresh, brackish, or saline Contains fresh, brackish, or saline waterwater
Serves as breeding grounds for Serves as breeding grounds for many animalsmany animals
Constructed wetlands usually in the Constructed wetlands usually in the form of a marshform of a marsh
SwampsSwamps
A seasonally flooded bottomlandA seasonally flooded bottomland
Contains large amounts of woody vegetationContains large amounts of woody vegetation TreesTrees
Slow moving waters rich in tannins from Slow moving waters rich in tannins from
decaying organic materialdecaying organic material
Usually adjacent to rivers or lakesUsually adjacent to rivers or lakes
Organisms are specialized to live in standing Organisms are specialized to live in standing
waterwater