Preservation Of Wetlands Essay Research Paper Preservation

Preservation Of Wetlands Essay, Research Paper

Preservation of Wetlands

Wetlands are in danger. We must try to help them because they are very important to us. They provide habitat and food for a variety of animals. They also provide the unique growing conditions needed to grow certain kinds of plants. The survival of many species depends on wetlands.

A wetland is an ecosystem in which land meets water or a piece of land that is covered with a thin layer of water at least part of the year ( Lisowski 1). Most wetlands in the Continental U.S. are in the upper Midwest, the southern Gulf coast, and along the Northeastern coastal states ( Liptak ). Wetlands are found all over the planet. Over half of Alaska is made up of wetlands and five percent of the lower 48 states are wetlands( Arem 347). Wetlands cover six percent of the Earth’s total land mass, yet they are among the World’s liveliest places. More animals depend on wetlands than any other ecosystem, except for the ocean (Staub 10). Wetlands collect water from rain, snow, and runoff from flooded rivers, lakes, and higher surfaces. They may also collect ground water from below ( Arem 346). Wetlands need woodlands and meadows nearby. The plants trap pollutants that would have gone into the water. Some birds roost in the trees and feed in the wetlands (Hirschi ix). There is very little oxygen in water or watery soil. Many plants get oxygen from tiny openings on their leaves above water. Others have openings in bark or roots for oxygen (Arem 347).

Wetlands are major breeding grounds and migrating stopovers for waterfowl- ducks, geese and swans- and other birds. A magnificent array of wading and shore birds- herons, egrets, and ibis- need the wetlands. Rails, coots, and many song birds also need the wetlands. Some amphibians and many reptiles rely on the wetlands as well as mammals. The wetlands are also shared with many insects, clams, snails, and crabs (Liptak ). Animals have many ways of getting around wetlands. Fish and frogs swim, ducks and beavers have webbed feet to paddle, and insects have shaped bodies that allow them to float or walk on the water (Arem 347).

There are mainly two types of wetlands. There is freshwater, which marshes, swamps, and bogs belong to, and saltwater, which is comprised of salt marshes and mangrove swamps

One type of freshwater wetland is a marsh. Over 90% of all wetlands are marshes. Marshes contain a few inches to a few feet of water (Arem 348). Ducks depend on marshes for food, nesting, habitat, and shelter. They make their nests among the thick marsh plants lining small ponds or lakes. Ducks have suffered losses in population because of the destruction of wetlands. Whooping cranes are extremely endangered. There were as few as 29 left on the face of the planet in 1973. Thankfully their population has risen to 131 today. They need marshes to survive ( Hirschi 6-10). Small birds, such as blackbirds, sparrows, and warblers, feed and nest in marshes. Wading birds, like herons, rails, and bitterns, walk the marsh in search of food. Most marsh plants are soft stemmed and non-woody grasses or grass-like plants, such as cat tails, bulrushes, and sedges. Marsh plants provide food for muskrats, beavers, mink, fox, moose, deer, frogs, turtles, dragonflies, spiders, skunks, snakes, and many others ( Arem 348 )

There is a special type of marsh called a prairie pothole. The prairie pothole region covers part of the northern U.S. and Canada. Potholes are depressions in the land that have filled up with water and have turned into marshes. 7,000,000 ducks visit the potholes to feed and nest in these marshes. Because of this, the pothole region has been nicknamed North America’s “Duck Factory” (Arem 348).

A swamp is a freshwater wetland where trees and shrubs grow. Swamps form along, lakes, rivers, and in low lying areas. They contain a few inches to a few feet of water. Swamps usually flood during growing season and may dry up during late summer or remain year round. Swamps tend to be dark and still and are patterned with floating plants and shadows from the tall mossy trees above. Swamps exist in both the northern and southern states. In the north common trees are the red maple, the black willow, the white cedar, and the cottonwood. In the south the water oak, the tupelo, and the bald cypress tree’s are common. Swamps may host, depending on their location, such exotic animals as

panthers, alligators, and black bears. Swamps shelter ducks and wading birds which paddle or pick their way through the shallows in search of fish and snails. Cottonmouth snakes and snapping turtles are in the water while pileated woodpeckers drill the trees. One special type of swamp is a shrub swamp. Shrub swamps have mostly shrubs and no trees. This type of swamp is found near lakes, marshes, streams, and next to regular swamps. Common swamp shrubs are the pussy willow, the bottom bush, and the leather leaf (Arem 349).

Bogs are freshwater wetlands that form in cool areas where little water flows in and out and where the soil is low in oxygen. Most bogs were formed thousands of years ago. The combination of coolness, poor drainage and low oxygen levels create unique conditions. Dead plants and animals decay slowly and over time layers of dead plant matter build up and pack together to form an acidic material called peat. Bogs are visited by many animal