Wetlands

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Wetlands
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Chapter 1 Section 4 Water

• A wetland is a land area that is covered with a
  shallow layer of water during some or all of the
  year
• Common types of wetlands are
• A. Marshes- grassy area covered by shallow
  water or a stream
• B. Swamps- flooded forests with trees and
  shrubs sprouting from the water. Most are
  located in warm, humid climates
• C. Bogs- form in depressions left by melting
  ice sheets thousands of years ago. They are
  found in cooler climates and usually have moss
  and colorful flowers in them.

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Marshes

• Grassy area covered by shallow water

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Swamps

• Flooded forests with trees and shrubs
• Warm, humid climates

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Bogs

• Has moss and colorful flowers
• Cooler climates

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Characteristics of Wetlands

• Help control flooding
• Provide a habitat for many species
• Coastal wetlands contain both salt and
• fresh water
• Vary in size-can be as small as a
• roadside ditch or cover as much area as
  
• a city

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Florida Everglades
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The Florida Everglades

• The Everglades are a unique region of wetlands
• The Everglades stretch from Lake Okeechobee to
  the Florida Bay
• The Everglades are known as the River of Grass
  due to the tall, sharp edged blades of sawgrass
  that grow in the water

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Sawgrass in the Everglades
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Everglades Wildlife

• Fish, snakes, wading birds, flamingos, white
  egrets, gallinules, raccoons, and alligators are
  just a few species that make up the Everglades
• The Everglades also provide habitats for many
  rare and endangered species such as
• a. Florida Panther
• b. Wood Stork
• c. Roseate Spoonbill
• d. Manatee

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Endangered Wildlife at the Everglades

• Florida Panther

• Manatee

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Everglades Wildlife

• Scientists are working to preserve the Everglades
  because many endangered species live there
• Wood Stork Roseate Spoonbill

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Everglades Wildlife

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Threats to the Everglades

• Some human activities that are threatening the
  Everglades are
• a. Farming has introduced new chemicals into the
  water which has upset the balance of nutrients
• b. Developments -areas of the wetland are being
  taken over to build homes and roads
• c. Introduction of new species -new organisms
  brought
• into the area accidentally or for pest control
  complete with other organisms for space and food

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Introduction of new plant species in the
Everglades-Examples

• Melaleuca quinquenervia- an Evergreen tree from
  Australia
• Problems it is causing It grows extremely fast,
  displaces native plants, diminishes animal
  habitats, and provide little food for wildlife

• Lygodium microphyllum -known as Old World
  Climbing Tree from Asia, Africa, and Australia
• Problems it is causing this tree forms thick,
  dense, spongy mats that are slow to decompose and
  exclude native understory plants. It can also
  take over native trees and fatally trap small and
  medium size animals

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Introduction of new animal species in the
Everglades-Examples

• Sus scrofa- Wild boar- brought
• here in the 16th century as a food
• source
• Problems it is causing It
• consumes significant
• amounts of native
• vegetation and they prey on
• smaller animals. They carry
• 45 infectious diseases or
• parasites that affect native
• species of the Everglades

• Python molurus bivittatus -
• Burmese python- Imported
• by/through pet trade
• Problems it is causing It preys
• on endangered and rare species
• and competes with alligators at
• the top of the food chain

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Preserving the Everglades

• Scientists, citizens, and government officials
  have been trying to develop a plan that involves
  building an elaborate system of pipes and canals
  to refill some drained areas with fresh water

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Importance of Wetlands

• Wetlands have dead leaves and other plant and
  animal materials that serve as natural
  fertilizers that add nitrogen, phosphates, and
  other nutrients to the water and soil.
• A. Importance to Wildlife Wetlands provide
  habitats for many living things because of their
  sheltered waters and rich supply of nutrients

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Importance of Wetlands

• B. Importance to People Wetlands act as
  natural water filters by absorbing wastes and
  trapping mud and silt to make other bodies of
  water cleaner.
• Wetlands also help control floods by absorbing
  extra runoff from heavy rains.