What are What are wetlands?wetlands?

WetlandsWetlands = = areas that areas that normally have normally have plants adapted plants adapted for life in soil for life in soil that is saturated that is saturated or inundated or inundated with water for with water for part of the part of the growing seasongrowing season

2 major categories:2 major categories:Costal Wetlands-Costal Wetlands-salt and fresh salt and fresh water marshes, water marshes, mangrove mangrove swamps, estuariesswamps, estuaries

Inland Wetlands- Inland Wetlands- bogs, fens, prairie bogs, fens, prairie potholes, swampspotholes, swamps

Prairie Prairie PotholesPotholes

Examples of Freshwater Examples of Freshwater Marshes…Marshes…

Wet Wet MeadowsMeadows

SwampsSwamps

Examples of Freshwater Examples of Freshwater Wetlands…Wetlands…

Swamps are dominated by trees & Swamps are dominated by trees & shrubs!!shrubs!!

BogsBogs

Example of Freshwater Example of Freshwater Wetland…Wetland…

Bogs contain a build-up of peat!Bogs contain a build-up of peat!

Alaska TundraAlaska Tundra

Examples of Freshwater Examples of Freshwater Marsh…Marsh…

MangroveMangroveSwampsSwamps

Examples of Costal Examples of Costal Wetlands…Wetlands…

Swamps are dominated by trees & Swamps are dominated by trees & shrubs!!shrubs!!

Salt Salt MarshesMarshes

Examples of Costal Examples of Costal Wetlands…Wetlands…

Functions of Functions of Wetlands…Wetlands…Habitat for many fish and Habitat for many fish and

wildlife species-includes wildlife species-includes nurseries, stop-overs for nurseries, stop-overs for migrationmigration

Flood control (act as sponge)Flood control (act as sponge)Water purificationWater purification

Includes cleaning, removing Includes cleaning, removing toxins, removing silt and toxins, removing silt and debris, filtering fine debris, filtering fine particulatesparticulates

Questions of the Questions of the Day:Day:

1. How do we measure water 1. How do we measure water quality?quality?

2. Why is water quality 2. Why is water quality important?important?

3. How do we prevent 3. How do we prevent pollutants from entering pollutants from entering water bodies?water bodies?

Dec. 8Dec. 8thth- Today’s - Today’s AgendaAgenda Questions of the DayQuestions of the Day

HW Check: Wetlands Assignment- HW Check: Wetlands Assignment- go overgo over

Wetlands Anticipation Guide (T/F)Wetlands Anticipation Guide (T/F) WetlandsWetlands

PicturesPictures FunctionsFunctions MetaphorsMetaphors

Time Permitting: Time Permitting:

“ “Swamps vs. Shops”Swamps vs. Shops” Ticket to ExitTicket to Exit