WetlandsWetlandsImportant HabitatsImportant Habitats& Ecosystems& Ecosystems

What are What are “wetlands”?“wetlands”?

What doWhat do YOU think YOU think

“Wetlands” are?“Wetlands” are?

Look againLook again

What do youWhat do yousee & hear?see & hear?

A wetland is land A wetland is land that is soaked that is soaked

with water, with water, like a wet sponge. like a wet sponge.

Sometime you see the water…Sometime you see the water…

……and sometimes you don’t.and sometimes you don’t.

Why are Why are wetlands wetlands

important?important?

Do you likeDo you liketo breath and…to breath and…

……drink clean water?drink clean water?

Wetland plants make Wetland plants make tons and tons of tons and tons of

oxygen for animals, oxygen for animals, like us, to breath.like us, to breath.

Wetland plantsWetland plants and soil filter (clean) and soil filter (clean) water, as the water water, as the water

soaks into the ground.soaks into the ground.

Do you need clean water?

SwampSwamp, , marshmarsh, , bogbog, , and and vernal poolvernal pool

are the are the 4 main types4 main typesof wetlands.of wetlands.

What makes each type What makes each type different from the others?different from the others?

1. Amounts of water2. Types of soil3. The plants and animals

Here areHere aresome examples:some examples:

SwampSwampLand flooded all or most of the year with lots of trees or shrubs. Trees and shrubs are called “woody plants”.

There are many different kinds of swamps, ranging from the forested red maple swamps of the Northeast, to the extensive bottomland hardwood forests found along the sluggish rivers of the Southeast.

Swamp

Swamp

Swamp

Swamp

What was What was the the SAMESAME in all in allof the swamps?of the swamps?

Go back and look again, if you need.

MarshMarshLand flooded for all or most of the year. No trees growing in the marsh, only soft-stemmed plants.

Typical marshes include species of sedges, rushes, grasses, smartweed, and cattails.

Marsh

Marsh

Marsh

What was What was the the SAMESAME in all in allof the marshes?of the marshes?

Go back and look again, if you need.

SaltSaltMarshMarsh

Marshes near the oceans and bays have salt water. Different plants and animals live in these.

Coastal wetland plant species include: smooth cordgrass; black needlerush; glasswort; salt grass; sea lavender; salt marsh bullrush; saw grass; cattail; salt meadow cordgrass; and big cordgrass

BogBogA bog has spongy peat moss and very little open water.

Precipitation is the only way water goes into the bog, and evaporation is the only way water leaves the bog.

BogBog

BogBog

BogBog

Did the bogs look wet?Did the bogs look wet?

Try walking on one.Try walking on one.It’s like walkingIt’s like walking on a wet sponge. on a wet sponge.

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Spring Winter Summer

The plants and animals that live in vernal (spring) pools depend on water for only part of the year. No fish live in this type of wetland. Vernal pools have water in fall through spring. They dry out in summer.

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Which type of wetland Which type of wetland has the most open has the most open

water?water?

SwampSwampLand flooded all or most of the year with lots of trees or shrubs. Trees and shrubs are called “woody plants”.

There are many different kinds of swamps, ranging from the forested red maple swamps of the Northeast, to the extensive bottomland hardwood forests found along the sluggish rivers of the Southeast.

Which type of wetland Which type of wetland has the least open has the least open

water?water?

BogBogA bog has spongy peat moss and very little open water.

Precipitation is the only way water goes into the bog, and evaporation is the only way water leaves the bog.

Which type of wetland Which type of wetland has only has only

soft-stemmed plants?soft-stemmed plants?

MarshMarshLand flooded for all or most of the year. No trees growing in the marsh, only soft-stemmed plants.

Typical marshes include species of sedges, rushes, grasses, smartweed, and cattails.

Which type of wetland Which type of wetland dries up in summer?dries up in summer?

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Spring Winter Summer

The plants and animals that live in vernal (spring) pools depend on water for only part of the year. No fish live in this type of wetland. Vernal pools have water in fall through spring. They dry out in summer.

Wetlands are habitatsWetlands are habitatsfor many plantsfor many plants

and animals. They are and animals. They are adapted to the wet adapted to the wet

environment.environment.

SwampSwamp

Great Blue Heron

Swamp Rose

SwampSwamp

Alligator

Swamp Sparrow

MarshMarsh

Marsh Wren

MarshMarsh

Beaver Dam

Beaver

MarshMarsh

Red-winged Blackbird, female

Red-winged Blackbird, male

BogBog

Bog Laurel

Bog Bilberry

BogBog

Bog Turtle

Sphagnum Moss

BogBogCarnivorous plants!

Sundew

Venus Fly Trap

Pitcher Plant

These plants eat insects since they can’t get enough nutrients from the soil.

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Spotted Salamander

Fairy Shrimp

Vernal PoolsVernal Pools

Wood Frog & egg mass

Spring Peeper

Let’s review…Let’s review…

Why are wetlands Why are wetlands important?important?

Oxygen,Oxygen,Clean Water,Clean Water,

& Habitat& Habitat

Wetlands do have more benefits. Perhaps you can read about them or figure some out for yourself.

What are the four What are the four main types of main types of

wetlands?wetlands?

Marsh

Vernal Pool

Swamp

Bog

Did you get them correct?

Name a plant thatName a plant thatlives in a wetland?lives in a wetland?

Can you name an Can you name an animal, too?animal, too?

Wetlands can be fun! Wetlands can be fun! Dress for mud. Dress for mud. Be quiet, listen,Be quiet, listen,

and watch. Explore!and watch. Explore!

Created by theCreated by theEndless Mountains Nature Center Endless Mountains Nature Center

with funding fromwith funding fromProcter & Gamble.Procter & Gamble.