quia - hydrosphere notes (day 4)

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Objectives: 1) Explain 4 ways that humans benefit from wetlands. 2) Describe 4 threats to wetlands.

Delineating WetlandsDelineating Wetlands

Wetland FunctionsWetland Functions

1) Water quality

2) Flood control / Water Storage /

Groundwater Recharge

3) Habitat / Biodiversity

4) Food / Natural Resources

5) Recreation / Travel

Why are wetlands important?Why are wetlands important?


• Vegetation filters out sediment and slows down

water, allowing sediment (and phosphorus attached

to it) to settle out; wetlands can remove up to 90%

of sediment from surface water flow!

#1 Water Quality#1 Water Quality

Credit: http://www.glc.org/dredging/soil/toledo/buffers.pdf

• Reduce erosion – plants hold soil in place


• Take up pollutants and excess nutrients

and store in tissues and/or transform

into less toxic form;

Wetland Function: Water QualityWetland Function: Water Quality

Forested riparian

(streamside) wetlands

remove 80% of P and 89% of N from

agricultural runoff!


• Neutralize acid, reducing negative

effects of acid rain and used in AMD

remediation

Wetland Function: Water QualityWetland Function: Water Quality

Credit: WOW! Wonders of Wetlands


Wetlands…

• absorb excess water when

streams and rivers

overflow their banks;

Wetland Function:Flood control / Water Storage / Groundwater Recharge

Wetland Function:Flood control / Water Storage / Groundwater Recharge

• hold water even when

ponds and creeks dry up

(drinking water security);

• recharge groundwater stores – surface water and

groundwater are directly interconnected (drinking water

security).

Credit: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/wetlands/wetlands4_hydrology.htm

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• Home to a large variety of plants, macro-invertebrates,

birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles (high

biodiversity).

-84% of amphibians in PA live in wetlands!

-1/3 of all US threatened and endangered species live in

wetlands

• Migratory stopping places

• Breeding / rearing grounds

Wetland Function: Habitat / BiodiversityWetland Function: Habitat / Biodiversity

Photo Credit: Clark Shiffer

The endangered osprey live in the areas

around streams, rivers, and open water

wetlands.

The endangered bog turtle inhabits

sphagnum moss bogs and marshes.


• The most productive ecosystems in the

world

• “Biological supermarkets” - important part of

food webs (aquatic and terrestrial)

• Human food production: fish, shellfish, rice,

cranberries, , , , blueberries

• Natural Resources: timber, medicines

Wetland Function: Food / Natural ResourcesWetland Function: Food / Natural Resources


• Beautiful areas for bird-watching, hiking, biking, and

camping.

• Popular tourist destinations: Florida Everglades and Louisiana Bayou country

Wetland Function: Recreation / TravelWetland Function: Recreation / Travel

Credit: http://www.beachdirectory.com/_images/evergladesaerial.gif

“Also, even if you hate out-

doorsy things, head out on an

airboat in the Everglades - it is a

one-of-a-kind experience that

cannot be found anywhere else

in the world.”

~Beach Directory Website

Credit: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district3/kissimmeeprairie/photo/Paul-Birding.jpg


• Conversion of wetlands

to industrial, commercial,

agricultural (cropland /

pasture and irrigation), or

residential uses.•>50% of US wetlands have

been converted to other uses

since the 1700’s

•465 acres of wetlands

disappear daily

Threats to WetlandsThreats to Wetlands

• Disruption of wetland hydrology by filling in, damming,

diking, and dredging.


• Mining

• Logging

• Runoff

• Excess nutrients and

pollutants

• Nonnative

species

Threats to WetlandsThreats to Wetlands

Credit: http://www.broadwaters.fsnet.co.uk/images/purple-loosestrife.jpg


• Changing attitudes�regulations to protect, instead

of degrade, wetlands

Protecting Valuable Wetland FunctionsProtecting Valuable Wetland Functions

quia - hydrosphere notes (day 4)

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