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What is a wetland?
2. Soils
Must be hydric or saturated with water to create an
anaerobic (oxygen-free environment).
3. Plants
Must be wetland plants, meaning that they require
lots of water and the anaerobic conditions that the
hydric soil creates. (Smith & Smith, 2001)
Swamps
Wetlands that are forested by large trees.
Precipitation, surface
and subsurface flow,
direction, chemistry,
and kinetic energy of
the water.
2. Hydroperiod
Duration, frequency,
depth, and flood
season
Hydrology
Basin Wetlands
(lakes and ponds)
Physical: Water flow
is vertical
(precipitation)
Hydroperiod: Long
with floods during
periods of high rainfall.
Hydrology
Riverine Wetlands
(periodically flooded
banks of rivers and
streams)
Physical: Water flow
is both vertical and
horizontal
(precipitation and
stream/river flow)
Hydroperiod: Have
short periods of
flooding with
stream/river flow.
Hydrology
Fringe Wetlands
(along coastal areas of
large lakes and oceans)
Physical: Water flow
is both vertical and
horizontal
(precipitation and tidal
flow)
Hydroperiod: May be
short and regular. Is
not seasonal like basin
wetlands.
Soils
Soil- a mixture of mineral particles, air,
water, bedrock, living and decaying
organisms.
There are literally thousands of different
soils that can serve as great indicators
within an ecosystem. Although each type
of soil is made of three basic components,
(sand, clay, and silt) they can be classified
based on the amount of each.
2. Silt soils
Soils that have grains ranging from .002.05mm in diameter.
3. Clay soils
Contain mineral grains smaller than .002mm
in diameter.
Soil Properties
Sandy soils
Has good drainage
and aeration
Does not store water
well
Is not suitable for most
plants
Soil Properties
Silt Soils
Soils made from
minerals
Granule sizes are
between sandy and
clay.
Also known as rock
flour or stone dust
when produced by
glaciers
Soil Properties
Clay soils
Hold water very well
Do not drain water
easily
Do not have space for
air
Is not suitable for
most plants
Soil Properties
Loam soils
Soils that contain an
equal amount of sand,
silt, and clay are called
Loam Soils
The mixture of sand, clay
and silt make loam soils
an optimal place for
plants to grow.
Are able to hold water
and air.
Soil Profiles
Soil profiles are
cross-sections of soil
that extends from the
surface to the
bedrock. It is usually
broken into layers
called horizons.
Horizon O- Topsoil
Horizon A- Subsoil
Horizon B- Partially
weathered bedrock
Horizon C- Bedrock
Wetland Plants
Plants in wetlands are categorized according to their
ability to grow in water or hydric soils.
Obligate wetland plants
These plants are found in wetlands 99% of the time.
Facultative plants
Are found in wetlands (34-66%) and uplands