Lab 11: Ecosystem Services Rome/Floyd EcoCenter

Question 1

Plant species present

Answer 1

swamp red maple, willow, water oak, sweetgum, hackberry, river birch, grasses, sedges, rushes, cat-tails, and duckweed

Question 2

What are typical waterfowl in area?

Answer 2

great blue heron, white egret, snowy egret, little blue heron, little green heron, mallards, wood ducks, canada geese

Question 3

What ecosystem services are included?

Answer 3

erosion control, mitigation of toxins by uptake or biological decomposition, flood control, enhancement of local biodiversity, recreational activities, etc.

Question 4

Why are wetlands important?

Answer 4

• about 50% of US wetlands have been converted to other uses
• ecosystem services by wetlands surpass value of most other natural ecosystems

Question 5

What in wetlands are particulary important?

Answer 5

littoral vegetation (semi-aquatic) at edges of open bodies of water are particularly important in mitigating effects of toxins, sediment, and excess nutrients

Question 6

What has contaminated Rome’s Oostanaula River?

Answer 6

PFAs

Question 7

What is rome using for water instead?

Answer 7

Etowah river