Wetlands 2 Review

Flashcards covering key concepts related to wetlands, their types, significance, and related threats.

Wetlands

Ecosystems characterized by saturated soil conditions and a variety of water-dependent plants.

Types of Wetlands

Broadly categorized into inland and coastal, including riverine, depressional, coastal, and peatland.

Marshes

Wetlands frequently or continually inundated with water, often dominated by herbaceous plants.

Swamps

Wetlands characterized by woody plants, saturated soils, and often associated with floodplains.

Bogs

Peat-forming wetlands with spongy deposits, acidic waters, and sphagnum moss.

Fens

Peat-forming wetlands receiving nutrients from sources other than precipitation, less acidic than bogs.

Salt Marshes

Coastal wetlands that are periodically flooded by saltwater, supporting specific plant species like smooth cordgrass.

Freshwater Marshes

Inland wetlands dominated by herbaceous emergent hydrophytes, often found along lakes and streams.

Okefenokee Swamp

A large swamp in Georgia, known for its diverse wildlife and significant amphibian populations.

Mangrove Swamps

Coastal wetlands dominated by halophytic trees that provide storm protection and serve as nurseries for aquatic life.

Peatlands

Wetlands characterized by the accumulation of peat, crucial for carbon storage and diverse plant life.

Threats to Wetlands

Issues such as human competition for water, conversion to other land uses, and the impact of climate change on water levels and ecosystem health.