Wetland EnvironmentsBy, Janet Hooks : )

• ECOSYSTEM- All of the BIOTIC (living) things and all of the ABIOTIC (non-living) factors in an environment.

WETLANDS: Ecosystems in which the roots of

plants are submerged (under water) at least partof the year.

• BIOTIC things: All living things!!!

• ABIOTIC things: water, topography (hills, valleys, flat land), landforms, geology (rocks & soil), sunlight, temperature, air quality, amount of dissolved oxygen (O2) in the water

MARSHAn area of

tallgrasses and

reeds covered

by shallowwater.

SWAMPA “flooded forest”

with trees & bushes

growing IN the water.

TYPES OF WETLANDSBOG

Often formed in

depressions left

by melting icesheets. Lots

oflow-growing

moss.

ESTUARIES:

~Water that is PARTLY SALTY & PARTLY FRESH is called BRACKISH

Bodies of SALT WATER,connected to theocean, that areDILUTED (made lesssalty) by FRESHWATER flowing outfrom rivers &

streams)

Salt

Wat

er

from

Oce

an

Fresh

W

ater

fro

m

rive

rs

• FRESH WATER flows into the Chesapeake Bay from many rivers, including:

-Potomac -

Rappahannock

-York -James

…but also from

rivers as faraway as NewYork!

CHESAPEAKE BAY (map on pg. 322)

• It is the 3rd largest estuary in the world!

• The Chesapeake Bay is THE LARGEST ESTUARY IN THE CONTIGUOUS (connected) United States.

• The Chesapeake Bay is one of the MOST PRODUCTIVE estuaries in the U.S. It is home to many species of plants and animals such as:

Oysters Clams Blue Crabs Bluefish Bass

CHESAPEAKE BAY (continued) Estuaries, like the

Chesapeake Bay, provide a HABITAT (home) for many organisms & serve as nurseries for their young.

COASTAL WETLANDS:

Coastal Wetlands usually contain

BRACKISH water

SALT MARSHES~ tall, strong grasses~ muddy bottom~ found on coasts

of the U.S.*The area right behind

our school is a MARSH!

MANGROVE FORESTS~ short trees with thick, tangled roots~ found along central & southern coasts of Florida

COAST: an area where the land meets the ocean! * We live on the EAST COAST!

WETLANDS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE. . . (1) Help Control

Flooding: * Roots & stems help SLOW DOWN the

flow of water over land!

* Wet land acts like a SPONGE! WET land absorbs (soaks up) water

MUCH quicker than dry land. ….because water

molecules “stick” together ---they are COHESIVE!!!

(3) Reduce Erosion: Plant roots and stems keep soil from washing away!

(2) Filter Out Impurities: Roots & stems trap pollutants which cleans the water like a BIG FILTER!

WETLANDS ALSO PROVIDE. . .

Food & Shelter for wildlife, fish, &

birds Nesting & Resting Areas for migratory (traveling)

birds