Wetlands - Limnology Exam 2

what is a wetland?

Lowlands covered with shallow and sometimes temporary or intermittent waters.

What are the parameters used to define/determine wetlands?

• at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes

• the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil

• the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season of each year

what are the key characteristics of wetlands?

• all have shallow water or saturated soil

• all accumulate organic plant material slowly

• all support a variety of plants (hydrophytes) and animals adapted to saturated conditions.

• hydrology affects the physiochemical environment, which determines the biota.

What are coastal wetlands?

Tidal salt marches, tidal freshwater wetlands, and mangrove swamps.

tidal flooding frequency and duration, soil salinity, soil permeability, and nutrient limitation.

What is a Tidal Salt Marsh?

Found on coastlines, river mouths, in bays and around lagoons.

commonly form at the ends of rivers in deltas protected by spits and bars

dominated by salt-tolerant grasses and rushes (halophytes), migratory wading birds and detritivoreswh

what is a tidal creek?

offshoots adjacent to the marsh created by the tide that host diverse communities of fish and plants.

They will eventually connect the marsh to other significant water bodies, acting as an energy and nutrient conduit. 

what are tidal freshwater wetlands?

They are close enough to the coast to feel the effects of the tide but far enough to not be affected by the salinity of marine environments.

what are mangroves?

found in middle to high latitudes

identified by the halophytic trees and shrubs that form the tangles mess formed by the roots of the mangrove trees. they serve as a defense against wave action, hurricanes, and rising sea levels. 

what are freshwater swamps?

forested swamps - Cypress trees being dominant

Peatlands

found in the world’s boreal zones that were once glaciated, and in a few wet areas in mountains. 

peat

a layer of undecomposed plant matter, often sphagnum moss

general wetland distribution

most wetlands are found in tropical and boreal zones rather than temperate

Bogs and fens are the majority

ecosystem services of wetlands

• pelts from beavers and nutria

• waterfowl hunting

• fishing and shell fishing

• timber harvest

• peat harvest

• endangered species preservation

• flood mitigation

• coastal protection

• aquafer recharge

• water purification

• aesthetics

• eco tourism