Ch. 1: “Watersheds and Wetlands” Lesson 1.4: “Wetlands”

1. Wetlands: Define wetland = A wetland is an area that contains unique types of soil, is home to plants adapted to a wet environment, and contains water all year or at certain times during the year.

1. Wetlands: Define the following types of wetlands. Be sure to identify the type of soil and vegetation present in each: 1. bog = wetland in which soils consist predominately of decomposed plant material called peat or muck 2. swamp = forested wetland in which trees and bushes are the dominant plants 3. marsh = wetland that generally forms at the mouth of a river or in areas where there is poor drainage

2. Pennsylvania Wetlands: How would you describe the vegetation of PA forested wetlands? Name the specific types of vegetation found there. PA forested wetlands are areas where the dominant plant types include mature woody trees over 20 ft tall. Examples include red maples, silver maples, black gums, river birches, and green ashes.

2. Pennsylvania Wetlands: How would you describe the vegetation of PA scrub-shrub wetlands? Name the specific types of vegetation found there. PA scrub-shrub wetlands are places where the dominant plants are scrub and shrubs as well as trees that are less than 20 feet tall, such as alders and willows. Low-lying vegetation includes spicebushes, high-bush blueberries, winterberries, and swamp honeysuckles.

2. Pennsylvania Wetlands: How would you describe the vegetation of PA emergent wetlands? Name the specific types of vegetation found there. PA emergent wetlands are marshy areas where the plants are rooted in soil but emerge above water. Examples include rushes, grasses, and sedges.

3. Wetlands at Work: List and describe 6 functions of wetlands. 1. habitat 2. food factories 3. spawning grounds and nurseries 4. cycle nutrients 5. buffer zones 6. pollution control

4. Urban/Suburban Swamps: Define urban/suburban wetland = wetlands that are found in developed areas.

4. Urban/Suburban Swamps: Describe urban wetlands development and their importance. Some of these wetlands are the remnants of streams and rivers that once flowed through areas. Other urban/suburban wetlands develop as a result of poorly or inadequately planned development. Still others are the result of the preservation of open spaces. These wetlands provide habitats for a variety of wildlife, minimize flooding, trap and filter out potentially harmful substances, and treat large volumes of wastewater.