Aquatics and Wetlands Overview

This set of flashcards focuses on key vocabulary and concepts related to aquatics, wetlands, and their importance in ecosystems.

Wetlands

Ecosystems dominated by vascular plants that adapt to saturated soil.

Types of Wetlands

Includes swamp, marsh, fen, and bog.

Swamp

Wetlands dominated by woody plants often found in areas like the Louisiana cypress swamps.

Bogs

Nutrient-poor wetlands with acidic water and significant peat deposits.

Fens

Wetlands receiving water from groundwater or runoff, typically with neutral or alkaline waters.

Marshes

Wetlands characterized by soft-stemmed vegetation and saturated soils.

Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii)

A threatened species whose habitat is declining due to various human activities.

Bioaccumulation

The process where contaminants accumulate in an organism's body over time.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of contaminants in organisms at higher trophic levels.

Endocrine Disrupting Substances (EDS)

Pollutants that interfere with the growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms.

Stream Buffers

Vegetated areas that protect waterways by filtering pollutants and providing habitat.

Anadromous fish

Fish that are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, and return to freshwater to spawn.

Catadromous fish

Fish that are born in saltwater, migrate to freshwater, and return to the ocean to spawn.

Potamodromous fish

Fish that migrate within freshwater environments.

Hydrologic functions of wetlands

Functions related to water storage and movement within wetland ecosystems.

Human impacts on aquatic ecosystems

Activities such as pollution and habitat alteration that disrupt natural aquatic systems.

Functions of wetlands

Processes including habitat provision, water filtration, and flood reduction.

Endangered species

Animal or plant species that are at risk of extinction in their natural habitats.