EVR 4027
What is the Standard Definition of Wetlands?
(This definition is accepted by Scientists.) Wetlands are defined as ecosystems that have all 3 of these characteristics: 1.Water Regime 2.Hydric Soils 3.Hydrophytes
U.S. Scientific Definition (From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (in Cowardin et al. 1979)-
-Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems or covered by shallow water -Characterized by presence of hydric soil, hydrophytes, non-substrate saturated or covered by shallow water.
What do "Kidneys of the Landscape" do? (4)
A. stabilize water supply/prevent flooding, -Clean polluted waters - protect shorelines -recharge ground water
What does "Nature's supermarket" do? (3)
B. Support an extensive food chain in which biodiversity can exist - supply a unique habitat that supports a large variety of plants and animals -food consumed by humans are also grown in wetlands (Cranberries and rice)
Climate changes and causes
Global warming, Sea Rise level, flooding salinity/marsh elevation, plant production, atmospheric CO2 concentration
Facultative Upland (FACU)
Occur almost always (Less than 99%) under natural conditions in non-wetlands)
Obligate (OBL
Occurs almost always (estimated probability greater than 99%) under natural condition in Wetlands.
How much of the Wetlands have been lost since the 1600s?
Over half of the original wetlands in the lower 48 have been drained or converted to other uses.
Deep Water ((System, Hydrology, Biochemical Role, Productivity)
Permanently flooded, Sink, Generally Low
Floating leaves
adapt to fluctuating water levels in a wetland
Where are wetlands most abundant?
Subtropical regions-500 sq. miles (Also abundant in temperature and boreal regions)
Example of Geomorphology (in reference to the figure)
THe topograpy of a landscape effects the movement of water into a wetland
How much wetlands have been lost in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Europe, and China?
U.s.-53% Canada-65-80% New Zealand- Greater than 90% Europe-Greater than 90% China- 60%
How many acres of Wetlands were there back in the 1600s?
over 220 million acres of wetlands were thought to have existed in lower 48 states
What is Hydrophytic Vegetation?
plant life that thrives in wet conditions -The sum total of macrophyte plant life that occurs in areas where the frequency and duration of inundation or soil saturation produce permanent by or periodically saturated soils of sufficient duration to exert a controlling influence on the plant species present.
Dangling Root Systems
specialized tissues such as aerenchyma -air channels in the leaves, stems, or roots of the plant which allow exchange of gases between the shoot and the root -low resistance passage way for gases, such as oxygen -Between the resistance above the water and the submerged tissues -widespread in aquatic and wetland plants grow in inundated soils
Determining and or deliniation likewise
the presence of a few individuals of a hydrophytic species in a community dominated by upland species is not a sufficient basis for concluding that the area is a wetland community (Look at dominant species) -To survive in anaerobic hydrologic conditions, many plants have developed some obvious physical adaptations to facilitate the capturing and transporting of oxygen
How far do wetlands date back?
1600s
Determining and or deliniation's meaning
- the presence of scattered individuals of an upland plant species in a community dominated by hydrophytic species is not a sufficient basis for concluding that the area is an upland community
Statistics on the States involved in Wetland loss;
-22 States lost half of original wetlands -7 states lost over 80%
Wetland loss
-22 states have lost at least 50% 7 states -Indiana -Illinois -Missouri -Kentucky -Iowa -California -Ohio
Wetlands Status and Distribution
-Distributed across the planet -4% to 6% of land surface -Polar, Boreal, temperature, subtropical, and rice paddies
What are the Human causes to Wetland loss and Degregation? (Know at least 8) (14)
-Drainage (agriculture) 87% Farmland (fertile soil) -Dredging and stream channelization -Deposition of fill material (urban land) -Diking and damming (impact flow to wetland) -Levees -Tilling for crop production (Soil erosion) -Mining (mineral) -Construction (soil erosion) -Industrial operation -Runoff (Sediments and pollution) -Air and Water pollutants -Changing in nutrient levels (runoff Ferterlizer -Grazing by domestic animals
What are the natural causes of Wetland loss and degregation? (5)
-Erosion -Succession (lakes fill in with sediments) -Droughts -HUrricane and other storms -Climate Change
What do Terrestrial Environments consist of? (4)
-Land ecosystem -Such as forests are characterized as having a generally dry substrate -Being a source of materials and nutrients -Low to moderate productivity
Adaptations include (5)
-Multiple or buttressed tree trunks (flooded conditions) -Pneumatophores or knees (erect roots above water log soils, enable the plant to transport oxygen) -adaptation saturated soils -plant roots cannot function when they are completely submerged in water because of lack of oxygen -pneumatophores are roots above the surface
Deep water environments
-Permanently flooded -Sinks of materials and nutrients (Such as sediments) -Generally have low productivity
Wetland Environments Are...(4)
-Transitional Between Terrestrial and Deep water systems -Intermittently flooded -Can be a source, sink or transformer (depends on situation) -Usually (not always) highly productive ecosystems
International Definition (From Ramsar Convention (Navid 1989)-
-Treaty between Many Countries -Defines wetlands more broadly, have waters up to 6m deep.
Wetlands are... (3)
-Very Productive when compared to other ecosystems -particularly in terms of plants -Rates are often compared to those in tropical rain forests
Adventitious Roots
-Water roots -Occur on plant -Develop during soil saturation that destroys most of the root's system -permits some plants to have roots abovethe water when conditions are flooded, which aids and transports oxygen
Water Regime
-Wetlands are distinguish by the presence of water either at the surface of the ground or within the root zone of the plants
What happened between 2004 to 2009?
62,300 acres of wetlands were lost in the conterminous U.S. (Further loss since then)
Distinguishing characteristics of Wetlands (7)
1. Depth and Duration of Flooding varies considerably from wetland to wetland 2. Water levels fluctuate from season to season and year to year, so boundaries cannot be easily determined by identifying the presence of water (Wetland Deliniation) 3.Wetlands are located at the margins between aquatic and terrestrial systems 4.Wetlands species range from those with adaptations to either wet or dry conditions (facultative) or those adapted only to a wet environment (obligate) 5. Wetlands vary widely in size, from potholes to large expanses 6.Their geographic Location can vary greatly, ranging from far inland to coastal and from rural to urban 7.The degree to which they are impacted by human activity is also quite variable
Wetlands play what 2 roles in the Environment?
1. Kidneys of the landscape 2. They are nature's supermarket
How many acres of wetlands are there now in the lower 48 states?
110 million acres of wetlands now
Examples of Wetlands
Bogs, Swamps, Marshlands
Climate (in reference to the figure)
Directly impacts the hydrology and the biota of a wetland
Geomorphology (in reference to the figure)
Directly impacts the hydrology and the physiochemical environment of a wetland.
Terrestrial (System, Hydrology, Biochemical Role, Productivity)
Dry, Source, Low to moderate
Determining and or Deliniation
Emphasis is placed on the total assemblage of dominant macrophytic plant species rather than on the presence of a particular indicator species
Facultative (FAC)
Equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wet lands (34-66%)
Physiochemical Environment (In reference to the Figure)
Hydric soils and other characteristics of it directly impactthe wetland biota
Biota (in reference to the figure)
Hydrophytes are a part of Biota, which includes fungi, vegetation, animals and microbes -provide indirect feedback on the environment and and hydrology
Wetlands (System, Hydrology, Biochemical Role, Productivity)
Intermittently to permanently flooded, Source/sink/transformer, Generally high, but sometimes low to moderate
1970s lost of Wetlands in what 5 states?
Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina.
Early U.S. Definition of Wetlands (From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Circular 38 by shaw and Fredine-1956)
Lowlands with shallow and sometimes temporary/Intermittent water with the development of moist soil vegetation
What happened the years between the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s?
Major wetland loss, but since then, the rate of loss has decreased
What 5 categories in which plant species that appear in wetlands may be placed?
OBL (Obligate) FACW (Facultative Wetland) FAC (falcultative) FACU (Facultative Upland) UPL (Upland)
Example of Climate (in reference to the figure)
The amount of rainfall affects water levels in wetlands and temperatures affects what plants and wildlife might thrive there
Example of Physiochemical environment (in reference to the figure)
The condition of soils in part determine what plants and microbes might thrive there.
What is an example of Hydrology (in Reference to the figure)
The duration of flooding impacts the characteristics of soils as well as the plants that grow there.
Hydrology (In reference to the figure)
The presence of water is represented by the hydrology box -Has a direct effect on the physiochemical environment and the Biota
Facultative Wetland (FACW)
Usually occur in wetlands (67-99%) occasionally found in non-wetlands (1-33%) Example: Silver Maple
Example of Biota (in reference to the figure)
Wetland plants can help stabilize the soil and they can als effect the movement of water across a surface, often slowing it down.
U.S. Legal Definition of Wetlands ( U.S. Army Coprs of Engineers (as related to Clean Water Act)
Wetlands are areas inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support and under normal circumstances do, a prevalence of vegetation adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.
Hydric Soils
Wetlands often have unique soil conditions that differ from adjacent uplands (Wetland soil shows different properties because of innovation with water)
Hydrophytes
Wetlands support vegetation adapted to the wet conditions and conversely are characterized by an absence of flooding-intolerant vegetation.
physical Characteristics (5)
Woody (Trees and Shrubs) Emergent (Stem above and below water surface) Submergent (Stem below water surface) Floating at the surface (roots not in soil) Phytoplankton (microscopic)
Is a Wetland a productive ecosystem? True or False?
Yes. A wetland is a highly productive ecosystem
