1/2 Coastal Wetlands Ecology: Types, Functions, and Conservation

What percentage of the Earth's surface do wetlands occupy?

5-8%

On which continent do wetlands not occur?

Antarctica

What is one of the primary ecological functions of wetlands?

They stabilize water supplies.

How do wetlands contribute to flood control?

They absorb excess water during heavy rains.

What role do wetlands play in water purification?

They filter polluted waters.

What is a wetland?

Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where the water table is usually at or near the surface.

What are some common types of wetlands?

Salt marshes

What is the significance of wetlands in terms of biodiversity?

They support rich biodiversity and form the basis for extensive food chains.

What are hydrophytes?

Plants that thrive in water or wet soil.

What is the definition of hydric soil?

Soil that is saturated with water for a significant part of the growing season.

What is the role of wetlands in carbon storage?

They act as carbon sinks.

What is the 'swampbuster' provision?

A provision in the Food Security Act of 1985 that denies agricultural subsidies to those who convert wetlands.

What are some human uses of wetlands?

Food production

What was a major shift in federal policy regarding wetlands in the 1970s?

The federal government began to protect wetlands through executive orders and legislation.

What are the three attributes that define a wetland?

1. Periodically supports hydrophytes

What is the ecological significance of the Everglades?

It is a unique wetland ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife and plant species.

What is the impact of wetland destruction on waterfowl populations?

It leads to a decline in waterfowl populations due to loss of breeding and feeding grounds.

What is an ecotone?

A transitional area between two ecosystems

What is the significance of the Federal Duck Stamp Program?

It provides funding for the purchase and protection of wetlands.

What is the hydrology of wetlands?

The study of water movement and distribution in wetland ecosystems.

What are some examples of regional wetlands in the world?

The Louisiana Delta

What is the role of wetlands in climate regulation?

They help regulate climate by storing carbon and influencing local weather patterns.

What is the definition of a deepwater habitat?

Permanently flooded lands lying below the deepwater boundary of wetlands.

What is the significance of peatlands?

They are important for carbon storage and biodiversity.

What are some adaptations of plants in wetlands?

Plants have adaptations to survive in waterlogged and anoxic conditions.

What is the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in wetland studies?

They are needed to address the unique properties and complexities of wetland ecosystems.

What is the role of geomorphology in wetlands?

It studies the physical setting and landforms associated with wetland environments.

What is the most important determinant of wetland establishment and maintenance?

Hydrology

What are the main hydrologic pathways influencing wetlands?

Precipitation

What does hydroperiod refer to?

The seasonal pattern of water level in wetlands

What defines the hydrologic signature for each wetland type?

The rise and fall of the wetland's surface and subsurface water

How is the stability of a wetland measured?

By water depth

What influences the biogeochemistry of wetland soils?

Saturation by water

What are the qualitative descriptions of tidal wetlands?

Subtidal

What characterizes non-tidal wetlands?

Permanently flooded

What is the definition of hydrophytes?

Macrophytic plant life that occurs in wetland areas

What role does vegetation play in wetland hydrology?

It affects hydrology through evapotranspiration and increases flow resistance

How do animals like beavers and alligators affect wetlands?

They significantly influence hydrology

What are the three major factors explaining wetland variation?

Geomorphic setting

What are hydrogeomorphic classes?

Distinct combinations of geomorphic setting

How are depressional wetlands maintained?

By overland flow

What is the significance of riparian wetlands?

They show seasonal or periodic pulses of water level delivered from overbank flows

What is the role of estuarine fringe wetlands?

They are pulsed hydrologically by daily tides

What maintains slope wetlands?

Relatively constant sources of groundwater reaching the surface

What are peatlands and how are they maintained?

Wetlands that can be maintained entirely by precipitation

What is the characteristic of water level fluctuations in wetlands?

Water levels are not generally stable and fluctuate

What is the impact of hydrology on vegetation types in wetlands?

Hydrology influences the types of vegetation that can grow in wetlands

What is the USACE definition of hydrology in wetlands?

The frequency and duration of inundation or soil saturation that controls plant species present

What is the effect of hydroperiod on sediment transport?

Hydrology transports sediments

What does the term 'saturation' refer to in wetland contexts?

The condition where soil is filled with water

What is the relationship between vegetation and physicochemical environment in wetlands?

Vegetation alters soil properties such as organic content and dissolved oxygen

What is the significance of flow paths and topographic contours in wetlands?

They influence the hydrology and ecological dynamics of wetland systems

What are the general hydroperiods for most wetlands?

Seasonally

What do flooding pulses do for riverine wetlands?

They nourish the wetlands with additional nutrients and remove detritus and waste products.

What type of wetlands are most favorable for describing coastal marshes?

Pulsed wetlands.

What has been documented about riverine systems?

They have the greatest variation between high and low water levels.

What is the wetland water budget generally described by?

The volume of water storage in wetlands and the change in volume per unit time.

What does 'Pn' represent in the wetland water budget?

Net precipitation.

What are 'Si' and 'Gi' in the context of wetland water budget?

'Si' is surface inflows

What does 'ET' stand for in the wetland water budget?

Evapotranspiration.

What is 'Bankfull Discharge'?

When the river flow exceeds holding capacity and enters a floodplain.

What are discharge wetlands?

Wetlands where groundwater inflow occurs when the wetland water level is lower than the surrounding water table.

What are recharge wetlands?

Wetlands where the water level is higher than the surrounding groundwater table.

What influences the amount of precipitation that becomes surface flow?

Climate.

What is the effect of humid cool regions on runoff?

They have a large percentage of precipitation converted to runoff.

What happens to surface water in warm arid regions?

They have higher evapotranspiration rates and greater soil moisture deficits.

What is the significance of groundwater patterns in wetlands?

They are crucial for understanding the hydrology and ecological functions of wetlands.

What are groundwater slope wetlands?

Wetlands found on slopes or hillsides where groundwater seeps.

What role do tides play in coastal wetlands?

They act as a stressor affecting the stability of groundwater levels.

What is meant by 'perched' wetlands?

Wetlands that are well above the groundwater of the surrounding area.

What is the primary characteristic of surface water depression wetlands?

They are dominated by surface runoff and precipitation.

What is the impact of low permeability soils on groundwater outflows?

They result in low groundwater outflows in surface water depression wetlands.

What are the two types of flow in wetlands?

Seasonal and continuous flow.

What are the three main processes for wetland restoration?

Removing excess salts

How do tides affect wetlands?

Tides ship sediments

What does hydrology influence in wetlands?

Vegetation composition

What enhances primary productivity in wetlands?

Flowing conditions and pulsing hydroperiods.

How does hydrology affect organic matter in wetlands?

It controls the accumulation and export of organic material.

What factors influence nutrient cycling in wetlands?

Hydrologic conditions.

What is the relationship between decomposition rates and water conditions in wetlands?

Decomposition is more productive in flowing conditions than in stagnant water.

What are electron donors in wetland decomposition?

Usually O2

What role do disturbances play in wetland maintenance?

They help maintain wetland ecosystems by changing plant communities.

What are some examples of natural disturbances in wetlands?

Floods

How do muskrats and geese affect wetland vegetation?

They can clear vegetation from large portions of freshwater marshes.

What is the impact of beavers on wetlands?

They can flood upland vegetation

How do fire and inundation interact in wetland ecosystems?

They maintain characteristic plant communities.

What is the significance of hydrology in organic carbon export from wetlands?

Hydrology is crucial for the rate of organic carbon export to streams and estuaries.

What is the effect of temperature on decomposition in wetlands?

Temperature affects the rate of decomposition.

What is the relationship between soil saturation and organic matter accumulation?

Soil saturation is critical for organic matter accumulation in wetlands.

What is hydroperiod?

The result of inflows and flowthrough of water and nutrients in wetlands.

How does hydrology affect species composition in wetlands?

It influences species richness and nutrient availability.

What happens to organic matter that enters wetlands?

Not all organic matter stays; some is exported to streams and estuaries.

What contributes to the energetic contributions of wetlands?

Wetlands export organic carbon at a higher rate than terrestrial ecosystems.

How do hydrologic conditions affect biota in wetlands?

They influence the development of biota and their interactions with hydrology.

What is the effect of anaerobic conditions on decomposition?

Decomposition is slower in anaerobic conditions.

What factors can alter wetland hydrology?

Biotic components can alter wetland hydrology.

What is the role of overbank flooding in wetland hydrology?

It is a major component of a wetland's water budget.

What are the major components of a wetland's H2O budget?

Precipitation