Why Are Wetlands Important?

Healthy Lakes, Rivers, and Streams. Wetlands act as a filter for the waters
of our lakes, rivers and streams. The vegetation found in wetlands remove
phosphates and other plant nutrients from surrounding soil. This reduces the
growth of aquatic weeds and algae, which can choke a waterway by stealing
the oxygen that plants and animals need to survive.

Pollution Filtration.Wetlands improve the water we drink, and the air we

breathe. Wetlands are capable of filtering pollutants such as sewage,
fertilizer runoff composed of nitrogen and phosphorus, and heavy metals
from industrial waste.

Flood and Draught Control.Wetlands act like giant sponges. They soak up
rain and snowmelt as they occur, and slowly release this water in drier
seasons. Wetlands serve as temporary storage basins, lower flood crests,
reduce erosion, and limit the destruction caused by severe floods. Land
development and the paving of large areas causes much faster runoff, thus
increasing the chance of flooding.

Habitat.Wetlands provide a temporary or permanent habitat to a wealth of

species of plants, fish and wildlife. Wetlands are homes to many endemic
and endangered species. An estimated 150 species of birds, and some 200
species of fish are directly dependent on wetlands for their survival. The
prarie pothole marshes, which represent only 10% of the Wetlands of the
United States, produce 50% of the Waterfowl. This Wetland system is
disappearing fast, and with it go the ducks it produces.
 Wetlands

Most people are familliar with Wetlands in some shape or form - as their
local trout stream, or the frog pond in the park. These are just a few of the
many types of wetlands that are found all around the world. Wetlands can be
as large as the Chesapeake Bay, or as small as a pond. Large or small,
wetlands are always a good source of food, shelter and other resources for
animals and plants alike. Often wetlands are the only source of precious
resources for endangered and/or endemic species.
Wetlands provide humans with many resources: clean water, food, flood
control, recreation, and industy, to name a few.

To learn more and explore Wetlands, choose a subject of interest from the
menu on the left.
 Types of wetlands

Salt Water Wetlands

Wetlands can be composed of water that is fresh, brackish or salty.

Some examples of Salty Wetlands include; Salt Water marshes, Sand Flats,
Rocky Sea Shores, Sandy Sea Shores, Mangroves, and Barrier Islands

The Rocky Sea Shore, common along the coasts of California,

Oregon,Washington, the Great Lake Shores, and the Northeast Atlantic
region is a high energy environment where the bedrock surfaces of large,
stable rock fragments lie exposed to the tides and waves of the ocean. These
areas generally support a large variety of algae, lichens, mollusks,
echinoderms, crustaceans, fishes, nesting birds and marine

mammals.

The Sandy Sea Shoredominates the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, the
Atlantic coast, and Southern California. Sandy Sea Shore wetlands can be
either in the shape of beaches, sand bars,and sand flats. They are formed by
erosion and are shaped by waves, winds, and currents. Beaches, bars and
flats are usually sparsely vegetated, although barrier islands( a form of bar)
may maintain substantial vegetation in the higher elevations. The sandy
shore is home to a variety of plants and animals such as crabs, insects,
worms, clams, fishes, wading and migratory birds, and nesting Sea

Turtles.

Estuaries form where Rivers enter the sea. Estuaries are generally inhabited
by a wide range of plant and animal species. The Estuarine environment is
known for its richness and as a nursery for many different animals. For
example, most of the Blue Crabs in the Atlantic begin their life cycle
protected by the gentle, brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The Salt
content of the water in an estuary can change rapidly, so the inhabitants of
the estuarine ecosystem must be able to adapt quickly to changing salinity.

Mangroves are a characteristic estuarine habitat. Approximately 80 species

of plants are recognized as being mangroves. They all share a variety of
adaptations that enable them to survive and grow in the unstable conditions
of estuaries.
There are 4 main types of Freshwater Wetlandsin North America; Ponds,
Marshes, Swamps, and Peatbogs.

A Pond is a well defined basin that is filled with stagnant water and ringed
by vegetation. It is fed mainly by rainstorms and snowmelt, and loses most
of its water through seepage and evaporation. In hot, dry months, parts of a
Pond may dry out, exposing mud flats. In shallow Ponds, bottom rooted
plants such as water lillies can reach the surface, while milfoils, pondweeds
and other submergent plants thrive below the water's

surface.

A Marsh is usually found near a river, lake or tidal waters. Marshes are
subject to periodic flooding, and the water level can change drastically in a
short amount of time. The boundaries of a marsh are not well defined, and in
draught, a marsh can completely dry up. Marshes are overgrown with coarse

grasses, sedges and rushes.

A Swamp is essentially a wooded marsh. Unlike Marshes, Swamps can

support trees, tall shrubs, herbs and mosses. Swamps are covered with still

or gently flowing water during wet seasons.

A Peatbog is a poorly drained area that is covered by mats of moss, which

slowly decompose in successive layers and eventually form a material called
peat. There are 2 types of peatbogs; Bogs and Fens. The water of a Bog is
much more acidic than that of a Fen, due to the larger quantities of
sphagnum moss and the more advanced process of decomposition in a Bog.
The vegetation of a Peatbog is mainly Sedges, Spruce and low-growing
members of the Heath family.
Most of the loss of Wetlands worldwide is a direct consequence of the role
that man has had in shaping the land through agriculture and urban
development. Experts estimate that 50 percent of the Wetlands that once
existed have disappeared. In the U.S. alone, some 54 percent (360,000
square miles) of Wetlands which once existed are believed to be lost, and in
some states the percent is even higher. About 80 percent of the loss of
Wetlands in the United States was to agriculture. Until recently, the
conversion and destruction of Wetlands was actively supported by the U.S.
government. Under the Swamp Land Acts of the 1800's, which promoted
leveeing and draining to destroy mosquito-infested Wetlands, over 100,000
square miles of Wetlands were lost.

Wetland Threats include: world population explosion, acid rain and other
industrial, agricultural and residential pollutants, dams and irrigation
methods

Despite valiant conservation efforts, Wetlands are still being drained, filled
and polluted today. As the many benefits of Wetlands are discovered and
rediscovered, people must continue to study and preserve our precious
Wetland habitats.
 Plant Adaptations to Wetland Habitats:

Mangrove "Knees" Some trees such as mangroves and cypress have

evolved a curious way to deal with the problems of growing in a wet and
salty place. They have evolved to have curious looking projections from
their roots called pneumatophores, or "knees". These "knees" develop from
the lateral roots that are growing near the surface, and protrude up to 12" out
of the soil or sediment. The precise function of these "knees" is not known,
but their is general agreement that they aid the plants in maintaining
adequate root respiration in a watery environment.

Salt BlockersPlants that grow in tidal Wetlands must adapt to the high level
of salinity in the water and soil. Some mangroves have specialized cells in
their roots which block salt from entering. Other plants such as the salt
marsh grass Spartina secrete the excess salt that they take in from
specialized glands.

Peat Mossses-also known as bog mosses (Sphagnum spp.) - are exceptional

Wetland plants. They are capable of growing in very acidic conditions
where there is no groundwater flow, and where the only source of nutrients
comes from rainfall. Their unique structure allows them to hold 15 times as
much water as the weight of the plant. Because of its ability to hold water,
Peat moss can sustain itself during long dry periods.
Beaver Dams The American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is well adapted to
its Wetland habitat. These large rodents have webbed feet, and a broad flat
tail for swimming, and a thick, waterproof coat. The Beaver is able to close
off its nose and ears when it is swimming underwater. Beavers build dams
to create pools in which they can build their lodges.

The Pond Skater (Gerris lacustris) is an insect that is especially well suited
to life in Wetlands. They have specialized, paddle like legs that enable the
insect to "skate" over the surface of the water, riding on the surface tension
that lies between the water and the air.

Gator Holes Alligators in Southern Florida Wetlands excavate the "Marl"

(fine-grained clay or limestone) in order to form a deep depression into
which they retreat in the dry seasons. During the dry season, a multitude of
animals seek refuge and food in the deep water of Gator Holes.

Migratory Fish Migratory species such as Salmon, Trout and Eel can
survive all levels of salinity in their migration through River, Estuarine and
Coastal Wetlands. Fish such as these that are able to adapt to varying levels
of salinity are described as eurythaline.