Wet Lands

Question 1

Ecotone

Answer 1

transitional zones between two distinct habitats, retain some characteristics of both, some unique characteristics.

Question 2

Wet land function

Answer 2

Wetlands generally are sinks for soluble inorganic nutrients and sources for dissolved and particulate organic matter

Prevents it from going into the aquatic environment

Question 3

Three major features

Answer 3

Water

substrate

Biota-Heterotrophic

Question 4

Water

Answer 4

hydrology controls the abiotic and biotic characteristics of wetlands

Duration of saturation and relationship to growing season

Question 5

substrate

Answer 5

Wetlands characterized by hydric soils due to blockage of oxygen transport in the substrate. Depletion of oxygen in saturated soils caused by plant roots, bacteria and other soil organisms.

Lots of sulfer

Question 6

Biota

Answer 6

Plants that inhabit wetlands need special adaptations to cope with anoxic (hydric) conditions in soil
Seasonal Dry up
Primary productivity can be limited by nutrients

Question 7

Plants

Answer 7

Emergents -
grow with roots often in wet soil
usually the major producer of biomass

Floating-leaf-
rooted in deep water, broad, floating leaves on surface can grow in deeper water than emergents
survive with fluctuating water level or high turbidity

Submergents
mostly rooted with most of plant below water are autotrophic and carnivorous

Floating plants
Pushed around by the wind
Duck weed

Question 8

Importance of wetlands

Answer 8

reduction of the area of wetland often reduces biodiversity
Marsh basins concentrate nutrients
Anoxic (hydric) soils → denitrification

Question 9

BEAVERS

Answer 9

Dams trap nutrient-rich sediment, kill woody vegetation due to herbivory, felling and flooding
Create a new more diverse habitat

Question 10

wetland loss

Answer 10

Long term : Succession, eutrophication; lake→ pond  →wetland  →terrestrial
Advantages (nutrient retention/removal)
Disadvantages
Greenhouse gasses escape 
Loss of biodiversity