Wetlands
A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water either permanetly or seasonally.
This biome is extremely valuable to soceity because wetlands can:
This biome is extremely valuable to soceity because wetlands can:
- decrease flooding
- removie flooding
- recharge groundwater
- protect shorlines
- provide habitiat for wildlife
- serve imporant recreational and cutural functions
Temperature
- Most wetlands are in temperate zones.
- This means that their average temperature is 70 degrees farenhit in the summer and 30 degrees farehitght in the winter.
- However, temperatures vary from 122 degrees to -58 degrees farenhit
Rainfall
The amount of rainfall of a wetland varies widely accoriding to its area.
- For example
- Wetlands in Wales, Scotland and Western Ireland recieve about 60 inches of rainfall per year
- Some places in Souteast Asia, where heavy rains occur, can reviece up to 200 inches.
- In the northern areas of North America, as little as 7 inches of rain fall each year
Soil
The land is saturated with water with salinity level between fresh and salt water
Wind
The wind helps disperse many seeds, which spreads the growth of plants
Many wetlands plant speceis have adaptations that facilitate wind dispersal
Many wetlands plant speceis have adaptations that facilitate wind dispersal
Location:
Wetland biomes can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Organisms
Producers
- Aquatic plants
- eelgrass and sedges
- Terrestrial Plants
- dunegrass and salt grass
- American alligator
- Gold Spiny Reed Frog
- Walking Catfish
- Coyotes
- Pacific Rattle Snakes
- Amphibians
- Turtles
- Snakes
Wetlands Food Web
Interesting Facts about Wetlands
- Wetlands are catagorized as some of the most productive ecosystems in the world
- They are "Seanal Wetlands" which do not have damp soil all year long.
- Over 30% of the worlds plants are found in the wetlands.
- 43% of endagered species rely directly or indirectly on wetlands for their survival.
- Blueberries, cranberries, mints, and wild rice are produced in wetlands.
- One acre of wetlands can store 1-1.5 million gallons of water.
Habitat Destruction
91% of wetlands in California have been destroyed primary due to agricutlre and urban developement.