Wetlands

Wetlands refer to any ecosystem that is wet at least part of each year. This includes swamps, like the Everglades, bogs, and fens. It also includes the prairie potholes of the Great Plains and vernal pools on the forest floor.

It is difficult to define a wetland. There are three components that define a wetland. These include hydrology, type of vegetation, and soil type.

• Name at least four functions of a wetland
• What type of vegetation typifies a wetland?
• What type of soil typifies a wetland?
• Where would you go to find the wetlands in your area of the country?

Every year, one-half of one percent of our wetlands disappear. This may not seem like very much, but it is estimated that 95% of these wetlands are freshwater. This is because coastal wetlands are protected by Federal and State laws.

Properties | Movement | Life | Locomotion | Metabolism | Excretion | Reproduction | Adaptation | Ecology | Map

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© 2004, Arthur L. Buikema, Jr. All rights reserved.