ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL POWERPOINT BY PATRICK SOPKO. Lucky you. It is about wetlands.

Soil. The soil of wetlands are very wet and full of water. They are rich in minerals and have many plants growing out of them.

Hydrology. The exact hydrological function of each wetland type is still undetermined. In addition, because each wetland is uniquely situated within the landscape, wetland hydrology will be somewhat unique to all wetland types. The hydrological regime of each wetland differs in frequency and magnitude of high water, duration, timing, and temporal sequences of high and low water (Zedler, 2000). We still do not know how fluctuations in the hydroperiod affect plant and animal communities (Zedler, 2000). Pre-degradation long-term hydrological data is unknown for a lot of wetlands. Typically, one of the main goals of wetland restoration is to restore the hydrology of a particular wetland. This is often a difficult goal when there are no previous records of hydrological data. It is unclear to scientists exactly how much of the natural hydrological regime has to be restored; we need to know if partial improvements can restore the biota and biological functions of wetlands (Zedler, 2000).

Vegetation. The wetland vegetation described here is grouped into four general ecological categories, depending mainly on growth position in relation to water level (Whitley et al. 1999). Of course, water levels tend to vary in wetlands on seasonal and interannual time periods according to climatic conditions and human management. While some wetland plants can tolerate substantial variations in soil moisture and water level, others have strict water requirements for survival. Thus, the following groups represent only a rough guide to typical wetland plant habitats. Shoreline: plants that grow in wet soil on raised hummocks or along the shorelines of streams, ponds, bogs, marshes, and lakes. These plants grow at or above the level of standing water; some may be rooted in shallow water. Emergent: plants that are rooted in soil that is underwater most of the time. These plants grow up through the water, so that stems, leaves and flowers emerge in air above water level. Floating: plants whose leaves mainly float on the water surface. Much of the plant body is underwater and may or may not be rooted in the substrate. Only small portions, namely flowers, rise above water level. Submerged: plants that are largely underwater with few floating or emergent leaves. Flowers may emerge (briefly) in some cases for pollination. The following plant descriptions are based on Whitley et al. (1999), as well as other sources as noted. Ink- sketch illustrations of many typical wetland plants by Haefner (in Whitley et al. 1999) are provided in a separate handout package. All photographs below © by J.S. Aber. Shoreline plants

Bogs Riverbanks, floodplains elevated only a few feet above river level, abandoned river channels, and oxbow lakes may have standing or sluggishly flowing water for much of the year and thus support swamps and marshes. Many trees can survive and even thrive in freshwater swamps as long as their roots are not submerged in water for long periods of time.

Marsh Freshwater marshes are often found in open areas near rivers and lakes. They are very common at the mouths of rivers and form in areas with mineral soil that drains very slowly. The water in freshwater marshes is usually one to six feet deep and is rich in minerals. Water flows into marshes from rain or from a water source like creeks, streams, or rivers.

Swamps A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation.[1] The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp forests and "transitional" or shrub swamps. The water of a swamp may be fresh water, brackish water or seawater. In North America, swamps are usually regarded as including a large amount of woody vegetation, but elsewhere this may not necessarily apply, such as in African swamps dominated by papyrus. By contrast, a marsh in North America is a wetland without woody vegetation, or elsewhere, a wetland without woody vegetation which is shallower and has less open water surface than a swamp. A mire (or quagmire) is a low-lying wetland of deep, soft soil or mud that sinks underfoot with large algae covering the water's surface.

Functions and Values of Wetlands. They absorb excess water for humans. They provide food for animals and humans. They provide a habitat for animals.

Wetlands ARE important to all organisms. They absorb excess water for humans. They provide food for animals and humans. They provide a habitat for animals.

Yeayaaaa. Just another one of my AMAZING powerpoints. Lucky you.