nPostednon February 2, 2016
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nWetlandsnare really, really important to the Earth’s biosphere. Thesenecosystems are land areas that are saturated with water (either allnthe time or just part of the year); the plants that grow in wetlandsnare adapted to wet soil, and many different sorts of animals live innwetlands as well. n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nWetlandsnare considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. Thatnmeans that there are more different kinds of plants and animals innwetlands than there are in either fully aquatic or drier landnecosystems. And some animals that only live in wetlands part-time usenthose areas to breed, feed, or even “just” rest. (Resting isnimportant for migratory birds!)
n
n
n
n
n
nWetlandsnoften act as reservoirs that hold fresh water. They often act asnfilters, because wetlands plants remove impurities and excessnnutrients from water.
n
n
n
n
n
nDonI need to point out that anything that is important to the Earth’snbiosphere is also important to humans? According to the World Wetlands Day website, more than a billion people make a livingnfrom wetlands!
n
n
n
n
n
nHerenare some types of wetlands:
n
n
n
n
n
nswamps
n
n
n
n
n
n Swamps are wetlands that are forested. Swamps can be fresh water, brackishnwater (somewhat salty), or seawater (very salty).
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
 |
| Mangroves are adapted to having “wet and salty feet.” |
n
 |
| Swamps are often pictured as kind of sinister and creepy. |
n
n
n
n
n
n
nmarshes
Marshes have few if any woody plants – and any woody plants thatnoccur are low-growing shrubs. So, no trees. Usually, marshes arengrassy.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nbogs
n
n
n
n
n
n Bogs are characterized by peat – dead plant materials that have accumulatednand made the water acidic.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n Bogsnare sometimes called mires, quagmires, or muskegs. We talk about getting mired in work, bogged down by a problem, or stuck in a quagmire (a tricky situation that is difficult to solve) because sometimes people or animals get stuck in bogs or mires.
n
n
n
n
n
 |
| Don’t worry; this horse WAS pulled to safety. |
n
n
n
nfens
n
n
n
n
n
n Fensnare also mires, but they are alkaline rather than acidic. Rather thanncoming from peat (dead plant materials), the waters of a fen are fullnof minerals and often bubble up from springs.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nEvennthough wetlands are so important to food chains, biodiversity, andneven human economies, some people view them as just wasteland. Theynsometimes want to drain such areas so that they can build more storesnand apartments and roads. We have lost more than 64% of the Earth’snwetlands since 1900.
n
n
n
n
n
nYikes!
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
- n
-
nthen Kids Do Ecologyn website;
nn
-
nthen experiment on the Wondervillen website;
nn
-
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
| n
n
n |
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nImbolcnin Celtic cultures
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nGroundhognDay
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nGroundhognJob Shadow Day
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nMarmotnDay in Alaska
n
n
n
n
n
nHedgehognDay
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nCandlemas
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nIcenCream for Breakfast Day
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nWorldnPlay Your Ukulele Day
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPlannahead:
n
n
n
n
n
nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
n
-
n
-
n
n
n
n
n
nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
n
-
n
-
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
