Eco lecture ch.25 connected and isolated

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the soil's surface for part of the year, causing distinct aquatic vegetation.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Natural cycles that involve the transfer of chemical elements through biological and geological processes, crucial in ecosystems like wetlands.

Hydrophytes

Plants adapted to growing in water or saturated soil, which are often used to identify wetland areas.

Hydrology

The study of the movement, distribution, and properties of water in the environment, including wetlands.

Ecotone

A transition area between two biological communities, often rich in species and unique habitats, such as that between wetlands and uplands.

Nutrient Cycling

The process in which nutrients are continuously cycled between the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of ecosystems, vital in wetland systems.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including flood protection and water purification, that are often performed by wetlands.

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act

U.S. law that regulates the discharge of dredged or filled material into waters, including wetlands, but does not specifically protect all wetlands.

Isolated Wetlands

Wetlands that are not connected to navigable waters and may not be recognized under federal protections, often vulnerable to loss.

Hydrology Indicators

Factors or metrics used to determine the presence and characteristics of hydrology in wetland areas, essential for delineation.

Jurisdictional Wetlands

Wetlands identified through specific criteria that fall under federal protection due to their proximity to navigable waters.

Temporal Hydrologic Variation

Changes in water levels and availability in wetlands over time, which can significantly impact ecological dynamics.

Obligate Species

Species that depend on wetland environments for completion of their life cycles, such as certain amphibians and birds.

Denitrification

The microbial process of converting nitrates into nitrogen gas, which can occur in wetland soils, thus removing excess nitrogen from the ecosystem.

Precipitation Patterns

Trends in rainfall that influence wetland hydrology, affecting the ecological functions and species composition of these areas.

Edge Effects

The different conditions at the boundary of an ecosystem that can influence species diversity and habitat use, particularly significant in wetlands.

Algal Blooms

Rapid growth of algae in water bodies due to nutrient influx, which can lead to harmful ecological impacts, often linked to changes in wetland health.

Hydric Soils

Soils that are saturated, flooded or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions, characteristic of wetland areas.

Temporal Isolation

The period during which a wetland may be disconnected from other aquatic systems due to seasonal variations.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Regions that are both rich in biodiversity and under significant threat from human activities; many wetlands fall into this category.

Ecological Restoration

Efforts to renew and restore the composition, structure, and functioning of ecosystems, including wetland restoration initiatives.

Carbon Sequestration

The process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in solid or liquid form; wetlands play a significant role in this.

Aestivation

A state of dormancy that some animals enter in response to hot or dry conditions, often seen in certain wetland species during dry spells.

Migratory Birds

Birds that travel long distances between breeding and wintering grounds, often dependent on healthy wetland habitats.