wetlands important habitats & ecosystems what are “wetlands”?
TRANSCRIPT
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BogBogCarnivorous plants!
Sundew
Venus Fly Trap
Pitcher Plant
These plants eat insects since they can’t get enough nutrients from the soil.
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.
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!