Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to human impacts on wetlands and mangroves.

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil, either part or all of the time.

Ecosystem Services of Wetlands

Include water purification, flood protection, water filtration, and habitat.

Threats to wetlands and mangroves

Include commercial development, dam construction, overfishing, and pollutants from agriculture and industrial waste.

Riparian buffers

Areas of vegetation near a body of water that can help absorb pollutants.

Mangroves

Coastal ecosystems that provide a variety of services including wood, climate regulation, coastal protection, and water filtration.

Coastal protection benefits of mangroves

Restoring mangroves for coastal defense is up to 5 times more cost-effective than grey infrastructure such as breakwaters.

Nutrient cycling

The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Carbon storage in mangroves

The carbon storage potential of mangroves is 3-5 times higher than that of tropical upland forests.

Ecological services

Services provided by ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

Pollutants affecting wetlands

Include nutrients (N/P), sediment, motor oil, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors.