1. What is a Wetland? Any place that is regularly flooded with fresh, brackish, or salty water

2. Water Not Not always wet Water Water levels change Permanent, Permanent, seasonal, or temporary

3. Completely dry 25ft Ephemeral pond

4. Flooded seasonally

5. Flooded by heavy rains or tides

6. Shallow water Maximum depth (2 to 6 metres)Maximum depth (2 to 6 metres) Light penetratesLight penetrates Highly productiveHighly productive Often little or no water movementOften little or no water movement Ramsar definition includes rivers, lakes, and coral reefsRamsar definition includes rivers, lakes, and coral reefs

7. Wetlands have hydric soils: Water fills the air spaceWater fills the air space Oxygen-poor (anaerobic or anoxic)Oxygen-poor (anaerobic or anoxic) Gray in colourGray in colour Unique aroma (“swamp gas”)Unique aroma (“swamp gas”) Soft and unstableSoft and unstable

8. “Water-loving” plants (hydrophytes)

9. Aerenchyma Cross section of the stem of an aquatic plant

11. FreshFresh BrackishBrackish SaltySalty “Super-salty” (hypersaline)“Super-salty” (hypersaline)

12. Hydrology

13. Wetlands have: 1)Water for at least part of the year 2)Water-logged (hydric) soils 3)Specially-adapted plants (hydrophytes)