Wetlands Flashcards
These are lands between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water
Wetlands
What are three attributes that wetlands must have at least one of?
- Predominantly hydrophytic plants at least periodically; 2. Predominantly undrained hydric soil substrate; 3. Nonsoil, water-saturated substrate or substrate covered by shallow water at some time during growing season
What three things can be analyzed to determine a wetland?
- Vegetation; 2. Soil; 3. Hydrology
These are soils that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper horizons
Hydric soils
What are four unique morphological/chemical properties of hydric soils?
- High organic content; 2. Specific moisture regime; 3. Saturated at least 7 days of growing season; 4. Supports specific aquatic plants
Can hydric soils be either organic or mineral soils?
Yes
These hydric soils come mostly from living material that accumulates due to slow decomposition
Organic soils
What are two other terms for organic hydric soils?
Peat or muck
These hydric soils come mostly from rock and other non-living material and have periodic saturation for a sufficient duration to produce chemical and physical properties associated with anaerobic environments
Mineral soils
What is the organic material content of hydric soils?
At least 50% by volume
For how many days must surface soil be saturated for a soil to be considered hydric?
At least 30 days
Mineral hydric soils emit an odor of rotten eggs due to the presence of this compound
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydric soils have this type of moisture regime due to water saturation and the resulting lack of dissolved oxygen
Aquic or peraquic moisture regime
Hydric soil condition can be reduced due the state transformations of these
Ions
These are plants adapted to handle little oxygen, hydric soils and frequent water fluctuations
Hydrophytes
What are four characteristics of hydrophytes?
- Large/thin/floating leaves; 2. Elongated leaf stalks; 3. Little or no waxy cuticle; 4. Poorly developed tissues
Plants are spaced in wetlands depending on this
Adaptation for moisture regimes
What are three vegetation zones of wetlands?
- Transition zone; 2. Emergent zone; 3. Open water
What are four types of wetland plants based on water regime and location?
- Emergent; 2. Free floating; 3. Floating leaf; 4. Submerged
This is the length of time and portion of the year that a wetland holds water
Hydroperiod
Hydroperiods are important determinants of this
Aquatic wildlife
What is considered a short hydroperiod?
< 4 months (dry by May)
What is considered an intermediate hydroperiod?
+ 4 months
What is considered a long hydroperiod?
Permanent wetland
This is the biggest challenge for wetland vegetation
Getting oxygen
What are six examples of plant morphological adaptations to anoxia?
- Aerenchyma; 2. Adventitious roots; 3. Rapid stem elongation; 4. Knees; 5. Buttresses; 6. Lenticels
Into what two groups does the EPA classify wetlands?
Tidal and non-tidal wetlands
These EPA wetlands are affected by oceanic tides and occur inland but in coastal areas
Tidal wetlands