Plants and Environmental Restoration quiz 2

Why are wetlands called kidneys of the landscape

cleanse polluted waters,

prevent floods, protect shorelines, recharge aquifers

Why are wetlands called biological supermarkets

support extensive food

chains and rich biodiversity

what is a wetland

Lands where saturation with water is the

dominant factor determining the nature of

soil development and the types of plant and

animal communities living in the soil and on

its surface

Where are wetlands found

every continent except for antartica

Name the four main types of wetlands

Marshes, swamps, bogs fens

Where are tidal marshes located and what are they influenced by

coastline, tides

What kind of tidal marsh is most prevalent

salt water

Name the two facts about salt marshes

Characterized by salt‐tolerant plants like smooth

cordgrass, saltgrass, and glasswort

One of highest rates of primary productivity of

wetland ecosystems because of inflow of nutrients

and organics

Where are freshwater marshes located and what does the lack of salt allow for

located upstream of estruaries

Lack of salt stress allows greater diversity of plants

like cattail, wild rice, pickerelweed, and arrowhead

Non tidal marshes ( What kind of plants, where do they occur, examples in the US)

Dominated by herbaceous plants

Frequently occur in poorly drained

depressions, floodplains, and shallow water

areas along lakes and rivers

Major regions in U.S. include Great Lakes,

prairie pothole, and Florida Everglades

Freshwater marsh (is water deep or shallow permanent or periodic, peat in mineral soils, where does water come from)

Periodic or permanent

shallow water

Little or no peat accumulation

and mineral soils

Most water comes from

surface water (floodwater

and runoff); also receive

groundwater inputs

Wet meadow (Where do they occur, where do they get their water from)

Commonly occur in poorly

drained areas such as shallow

lake basins, low‐lying

depressions, and land

between shallow marshes and

upland areas

• Primary water supply is

precipitation so often dry in

summers

Wet prairie (what is different from wet meadow, where do they get their water from)

Similar to wet

meadows but remain

saturated longer

• Receive water from

intermittent streams,

groundwater, and

precipitation

Prairie pothole (how do they form, what is important in this system)

Develop when snowmelt

and rain fill pockmarks left

on landscape by glaciers

• Groundwater input is

important

What is a playa and where are they found

Small basins that

collect rainfall and

runoff from

surrounding land

• Low‐lying areas

found primarily in

the Southern High

Plains of the U.S.

Vernal pool, how are they formed, hydrology

Have bedrock or hard

clay layer in the soil

that keeps water in

the pool

• Covered by shallow

water for variable

periods from winter

to spring but dry for

most of summer and

fall

Swamps (How do they get their water, vegetation, soil, where do they occur, examples)

• Fed by surface water inputs

• Dominated by trees and shrubs

• Occur in freshwater or saltwater floodplains

• Characterized by very wet soils during

growing season and standing water certain

times of year

• Examples include Georgia's Okefenokee

Swamp, Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp

Forested swamps (where are they found, how do they get their water, few examples of trees found)

Found in broad

floodplains of the

northeast, southeast,

and south‐central U.S.

• Receive floodwaters

from rivers and streams

• Common trees include

bald cypress, water

tupelo, swamp white

oak, and red maple

shrub swamp (what species are found)

Similar to forested

swamps except

shrubby species like

buttonbush and

swamp rose

dominate

Mangrove swamp (definition, tropical or subtropical, where do they occur)

Coastal wetlands

characterized by salt‐tolerant

trees, shrubs, and other

plants growing in brackish to

saline tidal waters

• Tropical and subtropical

systems

• Occur from southern tip of

Florida along the Gulf Coast to

Texas

Bogs (characteristics, water source, occurrence)

• Freshwater wetlands characterized by:

- Spongy peat deposits

- Evergreen trees and shrubs

- Floor covered by sphagnum moss

• Only water source is rainwater

• Most often found in glaciated areas of

northern U.S.

Fens (definition, vegetation, trees, occurrence)

Groundwater‐fed peat‐

forming wetlands

• Covered by grasses,

sedges, reeds, and

wildflowers

• Willow and birch are

common

• Tend to occur in glaciated

areas of the northern U.S

Name two wetland functions

Serve beneficial services

for people and for flora

and fauna

• Important in water

filtration, nutrient cycling,

flood control

Name 3 things humans use wetlands for

• Used to hunt, fish, bird

watch, and photograph

• Used for hiking and

boating

• Research and teaching

sites

Vegetation

Ecological function

biodiversity

4 habitat functions of wetlands

• Among most biologically

productive natural

ecosystems in world

• Abundant vegetation and

shallow water provide

food, water, shelter for

fish and wildlife

• Serve as breeding

grounds and nurseries

• 43% of federally

threatened and

endangered species

4 hydrologic functions of wetlands

Reduce flow velocity

• Provide ground water

recharge and discharge

• Wetland vegetation

impedes movement of

floodwaters

• Protects shorelines from

erosion

how much floodwater can a wetland store

An acre of wetland

can store 1‐1.5 million

gallons of floodwater

name 4 water quality functions of a wetland

Trapping sediments -

70% removal

• Pollution control -

Removal of 95% N

Removal of 92% P

• Removal or retention

of inorganic nutrients

• Process organic wastes

Name several hydrologic threats to wetlands caused by humans

Deposition of fill material for development

• Drainage for development, farming, and mosquito

control

• Dredging and stream channelization for navigation,

development, and flood control

• Diking and damming to form ponds and lakes

• Diversion of flow to and from wetlands

• Addition of impervious surfaces in the watershed,

thereby increasing water and pollutant runoff into

wetlands

polutant problem and examples

addition of pollutants that exceed the amount the wetland can adsorb

• Sediment

• Fertilizer

• Human sewage

• Animal waste

• Road salts

• Pesticides

• Heavy metals

Where do pollutants origionate

Runoff from urban, agricultural, and mining

areas

- Air pollution from cars, factories, and power

plants

- Old landfills and dumps that leak toxic

substances

- Marinas, where boats increase turbidity and

release pollutants

give examples of vegetation damage to wetlands caused by humans

Grazing by domestic animals

• Introduction of nonnative plants that compete

with natives

• Removal of vegetation for peat mining

what does the clean water act do

regulates discharges of pollutants to

waters of the U.S.

Regulates quality standards for surface

waters

Three things required to be a regulated wetland

Requires evaluation of hydrology, soils, and

vegetation

What is a created wetland

Conversion of a non‐wetland area into a wetland

where one never existed

Reasons for creating wetlands

Mitigation

Water quality improvement

What is a constructed wetland

Conversion of a non‐wetland area into a wetland

where a wetland never existed before for the purpose

of treating either point or non‐point sources of

pollution (stormwater and wastewater)

Name the components of a constructed wetland

Conveyance

Inflow structure

Forebay

Emergent marsh

Micropool

Outflow structure

Function of the conveyance

Getting the water from

where it is to the wetland

itself

Function of the inflow structure

Mechanism to remove debris and decrease velocity

and then disperse water into the wetland

Function of a forebay

Holds the first volume of water, like a small pool

Lets sediments settle out

Describe an emergent marsh

Contains 3 zones

High marsh - 6" deep with lots of plant material

Low marsh - 6‐18" deep with fewer and different plants

Open water - 18" and deeper

Describe a micro pool

Deep water zone

Cools water down before it is released

Water is drained or released from the bottom

Outflow structure

Structure to release water from the wetland

Name some wetland design considerations

Location in the landscape,

Water (source, height, residence time, seasonal fluctuation, augmentation exit)

Maintenence,

pest,

aesthetics,

saftey (Keep people out)

regulations (permitting)

processes to remove pollutants

Wetland restoration

Restoration is intended to improve wetland health and function by re‐establishing damaged or destroyed wetlands.

What do natural wetlands have?

Undisturbed wetland systems have complexes of

topographic relief

Consist of shallow areas with minor ridges and deeper

wetland habitats with upland characteristics

When wetlands are drained or altered they lose the

relief through land leveling or agricultural activities

Macrotopographic features

Wetland "ridge and swale" complexes with depressional

basins occurring on terraces and in floodplains

Generally 0.1 - 5 acres in size

Depths 0 - 30 inches

Ridges and mounds make up the upland component

Ridge and swale features form ephemeral wetlands that

hold water for a few weeks to several months during year

Microtopographic features

Shallow depressions with less than 6 inches of

depth between swales and ridges

Examples of microtopography can be seen on flat

fields after a rain

why is macrotopography important

Creates diversity in water regimes which can increase water

quality, provide flood storage, and enhance the

development of a more diverse vegetative community

Results in greater overall wildlife benefits through creation

of habitat

Wetland restoration that includes an undulating landscape

offers plant and habitat diversity

Plant communities can consist of scrub‐shrub,

submergent, emergent, and floating‐leaf communities

Native plants provide best overall habitat, are self‐

sustaining, and tend to be non‐invasive - plant natives

when possible!!!!

why is it good for wetlands to dry out?

Eliminates insects and vertebrate predators

Allows seeds to germinate

Exposes detritus to process of oxidation which

releases nutrients

succession and long term management

Succession of wetlands is a natural process that results in changes in habitat over time

Development of aquatic macrophytes

Invasion by trees and shrubs

Canopy enclosure over wetlands embedded in forested areas

Alter species composition over time by selecting for species that favor or can tolerate later successional stages

Early successional species will be lost,

lowering diversity

reversing wetland succession

Management strategy for wetland

restoration

Every 10‐20 years reverse succession in

portions of wetlands; staggered at 5‐

10% land area/year

ways humans can reverse succession

Mowing

Timber harvest

Draw‐down

Herbicides

Natural ways to reverse succession

Flooding

Drying

Burning

what is hydrophytic vegetation

• Plant‐life that thrives in wet conditions

• "the sum total of macrophytic plant life that occurs in areas

where the frequency and duration of inundation or soil

saturation produce permanently or periodically saturated

soils of sufficient duration to exert a controlling influence on

the plant species present"

Name the 5 classes of weltand plants and their prominence

obligate 99%

facultative wetland 66-99

facultative 33-66

facultative upland 1-33

upland 1%

when is hydrophytic vegetation present

when over 50 percent of the area is covered with facultative, fac wet or obligate species

Buttressed trunk

swelling around the base

Fluted trunk

helps provide support in unstable substrates

Shallow root system

Allows growth when

deeper soils are

saturated. Wind‐

thrown trees are often

indicative of shallow

root systems

Inflated stems

This adaptation allows

plants to float. Also,

oxygen can be stored in

the enlarged

passageways. Found in

water hyacinths.

Floating leaves

Pores on the tops of leaves allow for the

absorption of oxygen. A waxy substance on

the bottom of leaves restricts water

penetration. Found on water lilies and

pond lilies.

Knees

Upward appendage or extension of the

underground root system. Allows root

system to obtain oxygen since they are

exposed. Found on cypress and

mangroves.

Polymorphic leaves

Some herbaceous plants produce different

types of leaves, depending on the water

level at the time of leaf formation.

(Caution: many upland plants also

produce polymorphic leaves.)

Stooling

Some woody plants produce several trunks

of different ages in response to inundation

Hydrotrophied lenticles

Some plants produce enlarged lenticels on

their stems. These are thought to increase

oxygen uptake during times of soil

saturation

adventuitious roots

Sometimes referred to as water roots,

adventitious roots occur where roots

are normally not found. Small roots

protrude from trees or herbaceous

plants just above the soil surface in

response to soil saturation.

What do trees and shrubs have in common

they both have woody growth

Tree

- one erect perennial stem (trunk) at least

3" in diameter at a point 4.5 feet above the

ground, a definitely formed crown of foliage,

and a mature height of at least 13 feet

shrub

several perennial stems that may be

erect or may lay close to the ground; usually

What is a riparian zone

Vegetated areas next to

water resources that

protects the resources

from non-point source

pollution and provide

bank stabilization and

aquatic and wildlife

habitat

Another definition of riparian zone

Long, linear strips of vegetation adjacent to

streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs

Comprise small percentage of landscape but

contain high number of wildlife species and

perform important ecological functions

What are the two broad categories of riparian zone functions

ability to limit or reduce

environmental impact of

management practices in upland

portions of landscape on water

quality and aquatic organisms

2. Ecosystem services

Sediment and pollution removal

Water draining from cropland,

pastures, managed forests and urban

developments contains sediment,

fertilizer, pesticides and other

pollutants

Name several ways that riparian zones filter water

Vegetation reduces velocity of surface runoff as it enters buffer Sediment and particulates deposited in

buffer rather than stream Surface water infiltrates due to reduced velocity

carrying pollutants to soil

How do roots get rid of pollutants

Roots absorb excess

nutrients and other

chemical pollutants

How to trees and grasses get rid of excess nutrients

Trees and grasses use

excess nutrients to

grow

Nutrients are stored

in biomass for

decades

How do microorganisms take care of nutrients

Microbial organisms in

soil degrade fertilizers

and pesticides reducing

likelihood of reaching

stream

Anaerobic microbes

convert excess nitrogen

from fertilizer to a gas

which is dissipated to

the atmosphere rather

than entering stream

What do aquatic habitats provide for animals

Source of food and structural habitat for

aquatic organisms

What is beneficial about foliage and leaves falling into the stream

Foliage and branches that fall into

stream provide source of food for benthic

invertebrates

Many organisms have specialized features

that allow them to shred the tissue of

vegetation for consumption

What does large debris that falls into the water give aquatic animals

Large woody debris

such as fallen trees

and limbs provide

structural habitat for

aquatic communities

Provides location for

benthic invertebrates

to cling to, reduces

stream velocity

Helps to add diversity

to streambed habitat

How does vegetation protect the stream bank

Vegetation, esp.

trees, stabilize

stream banks and

reduce erosion

Roots bind soil

together

What does reduction of bank erosion do

Reduction of bank

erosion maintains

stream depth and

width

How do trees influence stream climate and why is that important

Clearing trees around streams can increase max

summer water temps by 7 to 21F.

Reductions in temp are important for

maintaining high levels of DO in water since

cooler water can hold higher [O2] than warm

water

what can happen if forested riparian zones are removed

Removal of forested riparian vegetation leads to

increased wind speed and decreased humidity

which can have negative effects on aquatic and

riparian communities

what are streamside management zones

Management activities adjusted to protect or

enhance riparian and aquatic values

Planning SMZ

Minimum width equivalent to 1.5 tree heights

• Maintain 50% crown cover to limit water and

ground surface temperature increases

• Manage for older trees at water's edge to

provide a natural supply of large woody debris

and to shade the water surface

why are transition zones so diverse

Since transitional zones that can be

flooded extremely dry seasonally,

home to a diverse community of

mammals, amphibians, birds and

reptiles

What does wildlife habitat do for animals

Refuge for cavity-dwelling wildlife

Provide travel corridors for terrestrial

wildlife

Economic values of wildlife habitat

Potential biofuel feedstock

Carbon sequestration

Alternative agricultural products

(fruits and nuts)

Can be managed for timber harvest

Recreational value for wildlife habitat

Forested riparian zones can be established in

urban areas to provide a park-like atmosphere for

local residents to utilize

Can contain walking or biking trails to increase

opportunities

In agricultural settings can provide opportunities

for hunting or wildlife viewing

Aesthetic values of wildlife habitat

Can provide break in the terrain

In urban areas - park-like structures

or natural areas that separate urban

structure

Vegetation can provide aesthetic

quality - flowering tree species

social values of wildlife habitat

Urban areas - assist in

increasing livability of

urban areas such as

subdivision or

commercial areas

In agricultural areas -

ease conflicting views

toward agricultural

practices and impacts

on water quality

Name 3 sources of stream impairment

Sources of stream impairment:

Agriculture

Hydrologic modification

Habitat modification

What does Working with nature, integrating

science, interpolating data, observing

natural processes, and making

decisions based on information to

improve system do for the stream?

Results in channel stability

Results in improved water quality

Results in less erosion

What is baseflow

Between storms, ground water seepage

Toe

- bank area from baseflow

level to the ordinary

high water level. Most active

erodible zone

Scarp

steep bank above toe

What are two categories of streambank protection

Those that work by reducing the force of

water against a streambank or shoreline

- Stormwater retention or reduction methods

- Grade reduction

- Reduced flow velocity

Those that increase their resistance to

erosive forces

Name three categories of protective measures

1. Vegetative plantings

2. Soil bioengineering systems

3. Structural measures