Online Assignment: Submitted To Sreekala Madam Department of Natural Science Svmcte, Vendar

ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
Submitted to
Sreekala Madam
Department of Natural Science
SVMCTE, VENDAR
Submitted by
Bineetha.R.
Natural Science
Submitted on
04-11-2015
WETLANDS
INDEX
Sl. No.
CONTENT
PAGE NUMBER
Introduction
Characteristics of wetlands
3.
Functions of wetlands
Types of wetlands
5-7
FAST FACTS
7-8
6.
Role of Wetlands in an
Ecosystem
Conclusion
10
Reference
11
1-2
INTRODUCTION
Wet lands are one of the worlds most important environmental assets,
containing a disproportionately high number of plant and animal species compared
to other areas of the world. Throughout history they have been integral to human
survival and development.
Wetlands are highly valuable and dynamic they are water bodies but also
include land. They are freshwater, brackish or saline, inland or coastal, seasonal or
permanent natural or man made.
Wetlands include mangroves, swamps and
marshes, rivers, lakes, flood plains and flooded forests, rice fields, and even coral
reefs.
Wetlands are the link between land and water, and are some of the most
productive ecosystems in the world. Some common names for different types of
wetlands are swamp, marsh and bog. Depending on the type of wetland, it may be
filled mostly with trees, grasses, shrubs or moss. To be called a wetland, an area
must be filled or soaked with water at least part of the year. Some wetlands are
actual dry at certain times of the year.
CHARACTERISTICS OF WETLANDS.
The most common feature of all wetlands is that the water table is very near
to the soil surface water covers the surface for at least part of the year. The main
characteristics of a wetland are determined by the combination of the salinity of the
water in the wetland, the Soil type and the plants and animals living in the wetland.
Because of the high Variability of the conditions and because of the different needs
for distinguishing among different types of wetlands, So far, there is no single
wetlands classification system that would account for the manifold aspects of this
specific ecosystem type.
FUNCTIONS OF WETLANDS.
Wetlands have many important functions that benefit people and wild life.
Provide habitat for a wideVariety and number of wildlife and plants. Filtter, clean
and store water in other words, acting life kidneys for other ecosystems.
Collect and hold flood waters.
Absorb wind and tidal forces.
Provide places of beauty and many recreational activities.
Wetlands also act like sponges by holding flood waters and keeping rivers at
normal levels.
Wetlands fitter and purify water as it flows through the wetland system.
Plants found in wetlands help control water erosion.
TYPES OF WETLANDS.
The Two major types of classification of wetlands, discussed above the first
is based on the traditional concept of a wetland, and the second is based on scientific
grounds.
Dependent mostly on a combination of the above conditions, the traditional
terminology distinguishes between two major wetland types mineral and organic,
such as marsh, swamp, fen and bog.
I. MINERAL SOILWETLANDS;
Marsh :- A type wetland ecosystem characterized by poorly drained mineral soils
and by plant life dominated by grasses. Marshes are common at the mouths of
rivers, especially where extensive deltas have been built. The marsh plants slow
down the flow of water and allow for the
nutrient enriched sediments to be
deposited, thus providing conditions for the further development of the marsh.
Swamp a wetland ecosystem characterized by mineral soils with poor drainage

and by plant life dominated by trees. Swamps are found throughout the world, most
often in low lying regions next to rivers, which supply the swamp with water.
Some Swamps develop from marshes that slowly fill in, allowing trees and woody
shrumbs to grow
The dominant Vegetation, therefore, distinguishes the two major types of mineral
soil wetlands grasses dominate marshes, while trees dominate swamps. Both
marshes and swamps may be freshwater or saltwater.
II. ORGANIC SOIL WETLANDS

Generally these wetlands are referred to as peatlands in recognition of their
common ability to form peat. There are two major types of peat lands bogs and
fens, both of which occur in similar climatic and geographic regions.
BOG
A type of wetland ecosystem characterized by wet, spongy, poorly drained
peaty soil, dominated by the growth of the bog mosses, sphagnum, and heaths
particularly usually and areas frequently Surrounding a body of open water. Bogs
receive water from precipitation.
*FEN
A type of wetland ecosystem characterized by peaty soil, dominated by glass
like plants, grasses, sedges and feeds. Fens are alkaline rather than and areas,
receiving water mostly form surface and ground water resources. Fens are supplied
with water mostly from surface and ground water.
FAST FACTS
1) Weltland include: muskey, moor, fen, carr, dambo, mangal, vlei, vernal pools.
Each type of wetland has characteristics specific to their part of the world.
2. More than one third of the federally listed species on the Endangered species Act
directly or indirectly, on wetlands for their survival
3. A wetland is a place where the land covered by water, either salt, fresh. Marsher
and ponds, the edge of a lake or ocean, the delta at the mouth of a river, low
lying areas that frequently flood all of there are wetlands.
4. The destruction of wetlands is a concern because they are some of the most
productive habitats on the planet.
They often support high concentrations of
animals including mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates and serve as nurseries for
many of these species, wetlands also support the cultivation of rice, a staple in the
diet of half the worlds population. And they provide a range of ecosystem services
that benefit humanity, including water filtration, storm protection, flood control and
recreation.
5. Without wetlands, cities have to spend more money to treat water for their
citizens, floods are more devastating to nearby communities, storm surges from
hurricanes can penetrate farther inland, animals are displaced or die out, and food
supplies are disrupted along with livelihoods. WWF, governments and other
organizations have pursued efforts to conserve and protect wetlands for more than
40 years through the Ramsar convention, the only international treaty devoted to a
single ecosystem type. Morethan 476,000 acres of wetland have been protected
through this treaty, saving them and their services for future generations.
RILE OF WETLANDS IN AN ECOSYSTEM

Wetlands prevent flooding by holding water much like a sponge wetlands
help keep river levels normal and fitter and purify the surface water wetlands accept
water during storms and whenever water levels are high. When water levels are
low, it slowly release water. It also release vegetative matter into rivers, which
helps feed fish in the rivers. It help to counter balance the human effect on rivers by
rejuvenating them and surrounding ecosystems.
Many animals that live in other habitats use wetlands for migration or
reproduction. While wetlands are truly unique, they must not be thought of as
isolated and independent habitat. These are vital to the health of all other biomes
and to wildlife and humans every where.
Wetlands directly improve other ecosystem Because of its many cleansing

benefits, wetlands have been compared to kidneys. The analogy is good one.
Wetlands and kidneys both help control water flow and cleanse the system.
CONCLUSION
Wetlands are one of the worlds most important environmental assets . It is
more important and integral part to human survival and development. The more
important role of wetlands in an ecosystem. It helps keep river levels normal,
wetland help to control erosion and purification of water.
REFERENCES
1. Hutchinson, G.E. 1975 A Treatise on Limnology, Vol 3 Limnological
Botany, New York John willey
2. Richardson. JL 2001 Hydrology of wetlands and related soils Lews
publishers, Boca Raton
3. Ponnamperuma, FN 1972 The chemistry of submerged soils Advances in
Agronomy, Vol 24
4. United Nations Enviornment programme (UNEP) Homepage Retrived
2011

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ONLINE ASSIGNMENT

Wetlands include mangroves, swamps and

nutrient enriched sediments to be

Swamp a wetland ecosystem characterized by mineral soils with poor drainage

II. ORGANIC SOIL WETLANDS

They often support high concentrations of

RILE OF WETLANDS IN AN ECOSYSTEM

Wetlands directly improve other ecosystem Because of its many cleansing

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