Wetlands

Question 1

What is a wetland?

Answer 1

An area that is covered with water for most or all of the year. It supports plants and animals that can live in saturated or flooded conditions.

Question 2

Explain the wetland system.

Answer 2

Water from streams flows into the wetland and slows down, allowing soil that has been eroded to sink. The contaminants are broken down by the bacteria in the wetland and filtered out. This takes time and cleaner water is slowly released back into the stream.

Question 3

A healthy wetland means…

Answer 3

…that the ecosystem in the area will be healthy too.

Question 4

What percentage of SA’s wetlands have been destroyed?

Answer 4

Over 50%.

Question 5

Why are wetlands being destroyed?

Answer 5

As the population increases more land is needed to produce food and provide houses. Wetlands have been drained to provide grazing land for animals and for land to grow crops. Houses and buildings also get built on wetlands, and some wetlands are used as rubbish dumps.

Question 6

Why do we need to conserve wetlands?

Answer 6

• They help improve the quality of water by cleaning polluted water.
• Water can be stored in wetlands.
• Flooding is prevented as the flow of water is slowed down.

Question 7

Lable the following wetland diagram.

Answer 7

A= ground water flow

B= bacteria breaks down contaminants

C= saturated peat stores water

D= slow release of stored water

E= stream

F= cleaner water outflow

G= provide critical wildlife habitat

H= contaminants and sediments are filtered