Unit 2: Louisiana’s Unit 2: Louisiana’s Wetland EcosystemsWetland Ecosystems

““Louisiana’s wetlands are Louisiana’s wetlands are important because they are a important because they are a vital habitat for many species vital habitat for many species of plants and animals. They of plants and animals. They

provide stopover grounds for provide stopover grounds for millions of migratory birds and millions of migratory birds and homes for many endangered homes for many endangered

species”species”

-Jacoby Carter, JASON Host -Jacoby Carter, JASON Host ResearcherResearcher

The Life of a Marsh (pg The Life of a Marsh (pg 48)48)• 1. What kinds of wetland ecosystems 1. What kinds of wetland ecosystems

can be found in Louisiana? can be found in Louisiana?

The wetlands are divided into two main The wetlands are divided into two main categories:categories:

Swamps which are forested wetlands, and Swamps which are forested wetlands, and 4 different types of marshes (fresh water,4 different types of marshes (fresh water,intermediate, brackish, and saltwater). intermediate, brackish, and saltwater).

Marshes of LouisianaMarshes of Louisiana

Swamps of LouisianaSwamps of Louisiana

2. What kinds of plants and animals do 2. What kinds of plants and animals do Louisiana’s wetlands support?Louisiana’s wetlands support?**additional info in teacher’s manual, page 51-52additional info in teacher’s manual, page 51-52

• The forested wetland ecosystemThe forested wetland ecosystem includes includes deciduous trees, small woody plants, deciduous trees, small woody plants, alligators, turtles, frogs, salamanders, alligators, turtles, frogs, salamanders, herons, egrets, ibises, crayfish, and much herons, egrets, ibises, crayfish, and much more…don’t forget, lots of BUGS!more…don’t forget, lots of BUGS!

• The marsh ecosystemsThe marsh ecosystems include 93 species of include 93 species of plants, turtles, alligators, snakes, muskrats, plants, turtles, alligators, snakes, muskrats, egrets, herons, and ducks living in the egrets, herons, and ducks living in the freshwaterfreshwater system. The system. The saltwatersaltwater system is system is home to only 17 species of plants, blue crabs, home to only 17 species of plants, blue crabs, speckled trout, redfish and shrimp. Finally, speckled trout, redfish and shrimp. Finally, the the brackishbrackish and intermediateand intermediate systems are systems are home to many grasses and reeds, fish and home to many grasses and reeds, fish and shellfish such as menhaden and shrimp.shellfish such as menhaden and shrimp.

Blue Crab, Louisiana Irises, and a Bald Cypress (LA State Tree)

Menhaden and MulletMenhaden and Mullet

• 3. How do plants and animals 3. How do plants and animals depend on one another and their depend on one another and their environment for survival?environment for survival?

This section is great for discussing Food This section is great for discussing Food Webs Webs

and introducing vocabulary such as and introducing vocabulary such as producers, consumers, decomposers, and producers, consumers, decomposers, and the detrital cycle. For more advanced the detrital cycle. For more advanced classes, have them identify the webs that classes, have them identify the webs that are specific to these systems.are specific to these systems.

• 4. How are changes to Louisiana’s 4. How are changes to Louisiana’s wetlands impacting the plant and wetlands impacting the plant and animal communities that live there?animal communities that live there?

Louisiana is losing about 17.2 sq. mi. of Louisiana is losing about 17.2 sq. mi. of wetlands every year do to natural and wetlands every year do to natural and human processes. This means that about human processes. This means that about the area of a football field is being lost the area of a football field is being lost every 30 MINUTES!!every 30 MINUTES!!

Saltwater IntrusionSaltwater Intrusion is the process by which is the process by which saltwater moves in from the ocean toward saltwater moves in from the ocean toward freshwater environments. As the coastal freshwater environments. As the coastal wetlands disappear, they provide less wetlands disappear, they provide less protection from ocean water moving inland. protection from ocean water moving inland. This increases the level of saltwater This increases the level of saltwater upstream causing freshwater species to upstream causing freshwater species to shift to lower salinity areas, or die.shift to lower salinity areas, or die.

Saltwater intrusion is speeded up by human Saltwater intrusion is speeded up by human activities such as the building of activities such as the building of navigational waterways called channels,navigational waterways called channels,

and by introducing alien (non-native) species, such as the Nutria. Non-native species often thrive in their new environments due to lack of natural predators. Without predators the species population gets out of control, and they end up crowding out endemic and native species by competition for food and space.

Nutria: The ProblemNutria: The Problem• Nutria are members of the rodent family and are native Nutria are members of the rodent family and are native

to South America. They were introduced to Louisiana in to South America. They were introduced to Louisiana in the late 1930’s for fur farming. Some Nutria escaped the the late 1930’s for fur farming. Some Nutria escaped the farms and found refuge in the nearby marshes, where farms and found refuge in the nearby marshes, where they have flourished since. While fur trapping was they have flourished since. While fur trapping was popular, the Nutria numbers were kept in line. However, popular, the Nutria numbers were kept in line. However, with the decline in demand for Nutria furs, and female with the decline in demand for Nutria furs, and female Nutria having litters of 2-12 young two times per year, Nutria having litters of 2-12 young two times per year, the Nutria population has grown out of control.the Nutria population has grown out of control.

• Why are they a problem???Why are they a problem???Nutria drive out native species such as muskrats due to Nutria drive out native species such as muskrats due to competition for food. Additionally, they gnaw large competition for food. Additionally, they gnaw large portions of marsh plants and eventually cause eat-outs. portions of marsh plants and eventually cause eat-outs. Eat-outs are not fast food restaurants, but a process Eat-outs are not fast food restaurants, but a process which occurs when an animal feeds on the roots and which occurs when an animal feeds on the roots and lower portions of a plant. When this happens, the soil lower portions of a plant. When this happens, the soil which was held together by that plant is washed into the which was held together by that plant is washed into the marsh during a flood, along with other plants. A hole marsh during a flood, along with other plants. A hole then remains in the marsh leaving open water where then remains in the marsh leaving open water where once there was land.once there was land.

NUTRIA: Cute but NUTRIA: Cute but Deadly!!!Deadly!!!

Nutria: The New White Nutria: The New White MeatMeat• Louisiana made an attempt to control the Louisiana made an attempt to control the

Nutria population by promoting it as a Nutria population by promoting it as a delicacy. For a while, it was popular as the delicacy. For a while, it was popular as the new fad food for those courageous enough new fad food for those courageous enough to try it with an open mind. The state had a to try it with an open mind. The state had a contract with the Louisiana Seafood contract with the Louisiana Seafood Exchange for a while, and hunting laws Exchange for a while, and hunting laws were put into place. Unfortunately, though, were put into place. Unfortunately, though, people could not bring themselves to enjoy people could not bring themselves to enjoy the dish. The mind set is still on the fact the dish. The mind set is still on the fact that it is a rodent, and now only select that it is a rodent, and now only select companies and restaurants carry it. If companies and restaurants carry it. If anyone is interested, and can get their anyone is interested, and can get their hands on some Nutria meat, there are hands on some Nutria meat, there are recipes on the internet. recipes on the internet.

Activity 2.2 Page 63Activity 2.2 Page 63• How Many Nutria Are Too Many How Many Nutria Are Too Many

Nutria?Nutria?

This activity will allow the students to see This activity will allow the students to see how an eat out is caused by the rapid how an eat out is caused by the rapid reproduction of the Nutria in comparison to reproduction of the Nutria in comparison to the slow growth of the marsh plants.the slow growth of the marsh plants.They will also learn that if the growth of They will also learn that if the growth of their marsh is faster than the rate at which their marsh is faster than the rate at which it is consumed, their marsh is healthy. On it is consumed, their marsh is healthy. On the flip side, if the growth of their marsh the flip side, if the growth of their marsh plants is slower than consumption, their plants is slower than consumption, their marsh is in danger.marsh is in danger.The ultimate lesson is how the introduction The ultimate lesson is how the introduction of an alien species impacts the of an alien species impacts the environmentenvironment

Lab Activity Page T71cLab Activity Page T71c

• What Does It Take to Keep a Brood of Brine What Does It Take to Keep a Brood of Brine Shrimp Healthy?Shrimp Healthy?

Resources for this lab:Resources for this lab:http://ut.water.usgs.gov/shrimphttp://ut.water.usgs.gov/shrimpThis website gives detailed information about This website gives detailed information about

brine shrimp.brine shrimp.For an elementary adaptation of this activity For an elementary adaptation of this activity

visitvisithttp://teachers.net/lessons/posts/659.htmlhttp://teachers.net/lessons/posts/659.html

Additional Resources in Additional Resources in Support of Support of Unit 2Unit 2

JASON@ Ames website has website links JASON@ Ames website has website links and mentor teacher information:and mentor teacher information:

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/jason/ http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/jason/

More info on Nutria:More info on Nutria:

www.nutria.comwww.nutria.com

www.iisgcp.org/EXOTICSP/nutria.htmwww.iisgcp.org/EXOTICSP/nutria.htm

TJO Digital Lab: TJO Digital Lab:

The Secret Life of the BayouThe Secret Life of the Bayou

Any Questions?????Any Questions?????

Please fill out your Please fill out your teacher evaluation forms teacher evaluation forms for this class for this class please. please.

Thank you!! Thank you!!