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What is a Wetland?. Any place that is regularly flooded with fresh, brackish, or salty water. Water Not always wet Water levels change Permanent, seasonal, or temporary. 25ft. Completely dry. Ephemeral pond. Flooded seasonally. Flooded by heavy rains or tides. Shallow water - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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What is a Wetland?What is a Wetland?
Any place that is regularly flooded Any place that is regularly flooded with fresh, brackish, or salty waterwith fresh, brackish, or salty water
WaterWater
• Not always wetNot always wet
•Water levels changeWater levels change
• Permanent, seasonal, or temporaryPermanent, seasonal, or temporary
Completely dryCompletely dry
25ft
Ephemeral pondEphemeral pond
Flooded seasonallyFlooded seasonally
Flooded by heavy rains or tidesFlooded by heavy rains or tides
Shallow waterShallow water
• Maximum depth (2 to 6 metres)Maximum depth (2 to 6 metres)
• Light penetratesLight penetrates
• Highly productiveHighly productive
• Often little or no water movementOften little or no water movement
• Ramsar definition includes rivers, lakes, and coral reefsRamsar definition includes rivers, lakes, and coral reefs
Wetlands have hydric soils:Wetlands have hydric soils:
• Water fills the air spaceWater fills the air space
• Oxygen-poor (anaerobic or anoxic)Oxygen-poor (anaerobic or anoxic)
• Gray in colourGray in colour
• Unique aroma (“swamp gas”)Unique aroma (“swamp gas”)
• Soft and unstableSoft and unstable
““Water-loving” plants (hydrophytes)Water-loving” plants (hydrophytes)
AerenchymaAerenchyma
Cross section of the stem of an aquatic plantCross section of the stem of an aquatic plant
• FreshFresh
• BrackishBrackish
• SaltySalty
• ““Super-salty” (hypersaline)Super-salty” (hypersaline)
HydrologyHydrology
Wetlands have:Wetlands have:
1)1) Water for at least part of the yearWater for at least part of the year
2)2) Water-logged (hydric) soilsWater-logged (hydric) soils
3)3) Specially-adapted plants (hydrophytes)Specially-adapted plants (hydrophytes)