Wetlands, Peat, and Tundra Part 1

Question 1

wetland=

Answer 1

land that is saturated with water long enough to promote wetland or aquatic processes
- poorly drained soils
- hydrophytic vegetation
- biological activity adapted to wet enviro

Question 2

in wetlands, where is the water?

Answer 2

on top or just below the surface (& remains there for most/ all of the year)

Question 3

Why does the north have a higher proportion of wetlands?

Answer 3

1. temp (evapotranspiration)
2. geology: doesn’t drain well b/c frozen etc

Question 4

There are 5 types of wetlands in Canada:

Answer 4

1. bogs
2. fens
3. swamps
4. marshes
5. shallow waters (eg ponds)

Question 5

which types of wetlands accumulate peat, and which don’t? Why?

Answer 5

Bogs and fens accumulate peat
- dead moss/ organic matter

Swamps/ marshes/ shallow waters don’t accumulate peat
- b/c warmer= higher O2 for decomp and more nutrients

Question 6

wetlands form along complex gradients including:
1
2
3

Answer 6

hydrology (how much water they have, esp seasonally)

chemistry (esp nutrient- N and P- availability)

biotic (ground layer development- mosses- and presence of a tree layer)

Question 7

Peat= ____ organic matter (O horizon exceeds __cm)

Peat forms when decomposition is slower than ___ due to ___ conditions

Answer 7

undecomposed
40cm

deposition
anaerobic

Question 8

____ moss is a key species of peatlands. Why?

Answer 8

sphagnum spp
produces chemicals that inhibit bacterial action (it’s acidic) so prevents decomp

Question 9

Fens tend to succeed into ___, which succeed into ____ ____

Answer 9

swamps
terrestrial systems

Question 10

Canada has more peatlands than any other country! ~__% of Canada’s land area

Answer 10

12

Question 11

-
-

Answer 11

• global climate (C stores)
• catchment hydrology
• soil conditions

Question 12

What are 3 uses of peatlands for humans? 1 use for animals?

Answer 12

1. energy generation
2. humus and organic fertilizer
3. dry malted barely
4. habitat

Question 13

Fewer peatlands as temp increases because they __ ___, which releases ___ ____

Answer 13

dry up
stored carbon