Slide1: Wetlands By: Natalie Tillman
Slide2: "Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or where shallow water covers the land and where at least one of the following attributes holds: 1) the land predominantly supports aquatic plants at least periodically; 2) undrained hydric soils are the predominant substrate; and 3) at some time during the growing season, the substrate is saturated with water or covered by shallow water."
EPA definition at http://www.epa.gov/emap/html/dataI/wetlands/
Slide3: All wetlands generate dissolved carbon, which increases color, thus lowering light penetration. surface-water flow becomes obstructed due to shallow depth, plants and peat sediment protect shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants, provide habitat, breeding and feeding for animals and plants, purify water, and are important for recreational activities form nurseries for fish and other freshwater and marine life Wetlands can be found in nearly every county and climatic zone in the United States.
Slide4: Types of Wetlands Marshes
contain plants without strong woody stems and branches (herbaceous plants)
either freshwater or saltwater
freshwater marshes: 90% of America's wetlands
Swamps
dominant vegetation is woody plants such as trees and shrubs
Freshwater and saltwater swamps Bogs
freshwater wetlands found in cold regions Fens
similar to bogs
higher pH and more nutrients
located in regions of the northeast, the northern plains and Canada.
Flora: Flora Reed grass
Blue flag
Black willow
Silver maple
Sedge
Wild celery
Cattails
Swamp rose
Slide6: Fauna toads
wood ducks
muskrat
Menhaden
flounder
sea trout
salamanders
spot
croaker
striped bass
Woodpeckers
hawks
wading birds
many song- birds
Frogs
peregrine falcon
otter
black bear
raccoon
deer
Geese
Extra Details: Extra Details more than half of America's original wetlands have been destroyed
More than one-third of the United States' threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands