Wetlands

  • A wetland is an area that is saturated or covered by water for at least one season of the year.
  • Freshwater wetlands are also called swamps, marshes, or bogs.
  • Saltwater wetlands include estuaries.
  • Wetland vegetation must be adapted to water-logged soil, which contains little oxygen.
  • Freshwater wetland plants include duckweed and cattails .
  • Some wetlands also have trees.
  • Their roots may be partly above ground to allow gas exchange with the air.
  • Wetlands are extremely important biomes for several reasons.
    • They store excess water from floods and runoff.
    • They absorb some of the energy of running water and help prevent erosion.
    • They remove excess nutrients from runoff before it empties into rivers or lakes.
    • They provide a unique habitat that certain communities of plants need to survive.
    • They provide a safe, lush habitat for many species of animals.

Wetlands