The document discusses different types of wetland ecosystems, including marine/saltwater wetlands and freshwater wetlands. It describes key characteristics of different wetland types such as marshes, swamps, and bogs, including dominant vegetation, hydrology, and examples from locations in Delaware and Maine. The document also briefly discusses mangrove forests and questions to consider about the importance of wetlands.
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Wetland Ecosystems
1. Wetland Ecosystems
• Marine and Freshwater
• Hydrology and water-
logging
• Soils flooded all or part
of the year
• Vegetation tolerant to
low O2 and high amounts
of H2O
2. Wetland Ecosystems
• Marine and Freshwater
• Hydrology and water-
logging
• Soils flooded all or part
of the year
• Vegetation tolerant to
low O2 and high amounts
of H2O
3. Wetland Ecosystems
• Marine and Freshwater
• Hydrology and water-
logging
• Soils flooded all or part
of the year
• Vegetation tolerant to
low O2 and high amounts
of H2O
4. Freshwater Wetlands
• Marshes
• Primary vegetation is
herbaceous
• Western end of
Noxontown Pond
• What herbivores and
carnivores are likely
here?
5. Freshwater Wetlands
• Marshes
• Primary vegetation is
herbaceous
• Western end of
Noxontown Pond
• What herbivores and
carnivores are likely
here?
6. Freshwater Wetlands
• Marshes
• Primary vegetation is
herbaceous
• Western end of
Noxontown Pond
• What herbivores and
carnivores are likely
here?
7. Freshwater Wetlands
• Marshes
• Primary vegetation is
herbaceous
• Western end of
Noxontown Pond
• What herbivores and
carnivores are likely
here?
8. Other Freshwater
Wetlands
• Swamps
• Live trees primary
vegetation
• Trappe Point State Park,
Laurel, DE
• Bald Cypress
• What animals live in a
swamp like this?
Eastern Bald Cypress
9. Freshwater Wetlands not
found in DE
• Bog
• Poor drainage; acid pH
• Low nutrients/low
decomposition
• Primary vegetation:
Sphagnum moss
• Bogs play a major role in The Great Heath, Mt. Desert Island,ME
carbon sequestration
10. Freshwater Wetlands not
found in DE
• Bog
• Poor drainage; acid pH
• Low nutrients/low
decomposition
• Primary vegetation:
Sphagnum moss
• Bogs play a major role in The Great Heath, Mt. Desert Island,ME
carbon sequestration
11. Freshwater Wetlands not
found in DE
• Bog
• Poor drainage; acid pH
• Low nutrients/low
decomposition
• Primary vegetation:
Sphagnum moss
• Bogs play a major role in The Great Heath, Mt. Desert Island,ME
carbon sequestration
12. Freshwater Wetlands not
found in DE
• Bog
• Poor drainage; acid pH
• Low nutrients/low
decomposition
• Primary vegetation:
Sphagnum moss
• Bogs play a major role in The Great Heath, Mt. Desert Island,ME
carbon sequestration
13. Marine Wetlands
• Tidal Influence
• Usually
associated with
estuaries
• Temperate and
Tropical
• High NPP;
rapid cycling of
nutrients
14. Marine Wetlands
• Tidal Influence
• Usually
associated with
estuaries
• Temperate and
Tropical
• High NPP;
rapid cycling of
nutrients
15. Delaware Salt Marshes
• Appoquinimink
River tidal basin
(other side of
spillway) &
Bombay Hook
• Do salt marshes
have advantages
over freshwater
marshes?
16. Delaware Salt Marshes
• Appoquinimink
River tidal basin
(other side of
spillway) &
Bombay Hook
• Do salt marshes
have advantages
over freshwater
marshes?
17. Delaware Salt Marshes
• Appoquinimink
River tidal basin
(other side of
spillway) &
Bombay Hook
• Do salt marshes
have advantages
over freshwater
marshes?
18. Delaware Salt Marshes
• Appoquinimink
River tidal basin
(other side of
spillway) &
Bombay Hook
• Do salt marshes
have advantages
over freshwater
marshes?
19. Mangrove Forests
• Tropical Marine
Wetlands
• Mangrove trees primary
vegetation
• Protect coastline
• Nursery areas
• Impact of aquaculture
(shrimp)
• Found in Florida, too
Palawan, Philippines
20. A Few Questions To
Consider...
• Why are wetlands
important to to our
coast?
• What role do wetlands
play in the hydrological
cycle?
• What animal species
spend part or all of their
lives in wetlands?
21. Two Final Questions...
• How do humans
impact wetlands?
• What role do
you think
wetlands play in
climate change?
St. Andrew’s School