WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey

WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem.

IMPORTANCES OF WETLANDS  High number of animals and plants species.  Are very important to ecosystems for a variety of reasons including feeding downstream waters, trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, removing pollution and providing fish and wildlife habitat.  Agriculture (with crop fields on river floodplain soils and rice fields as major examples).  Recreation (boating, fishing, swimming, bird watching, and hunting).

PEAT  Peat ( turf ) is an buildup of partially decayed plants or organic matter that is unique to natural areas called peat lands or mires. The peat land ecosystem is the most efficient carbon sink on the planet.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEAT AND COAL  Carbon may remain locked away in dead plant matter (peat) for many years in a bog/wetland area.  Sometimes these deposits have layers of sediment that settle, and as more layers of sediment are piled on top, the slowly decaying organic matter can end up trapped between layers of rock. The result is the formation of a carbon-containing fossil fuel, coal.  Coal is very important economically as the coal industry contributes an estimated $5.2 billion to Canada’s GDP

IMPORTANCE OF PEAT  Peat is important for farmers and gardeners, who mix it into soil to improve its structure and to increase acidity.  It contains substances that are beneficial for plants, and for the reproductive health of fish.  It can even prevent algae growth and kill microorganisms that would otherwise harm an ecosystem.  Peat also serves as a filter for septic tanks and may be used as a water purifier.  Peat is widely used in balneotherapy (the use of bathing to treat disease).  It was useful as an alternative to firewood for cooking and heating.

DESERTIFICATION  The process of fertile land transforming into desert typically as a result of deforestation, drought, or improper/inappropriate agriculture.

CAUSES  Deflation (the loss of stabilizing vegetation, and of top soil)  Erosion – the washing away of good soil during flooding  Soil-salinity-rise – salt content in soil increasing (often due to irrigation of soil)  Agriculture  Farming  Groundwater pumping/depletion

QUESTIONS

TRUE OR FALSE Humans have an impact on Wetlands. T or F Wetlands are important for agriculture. T or F

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1)Peat is important to humans because… a) We need vitamins that are found in Peat b) It’s used to make Coal c) It’s used to feed animals 2) What are Natural Impacts to Wetlands? a) They are physical, chemical, and biological impacts. b) They are erosions. c) They are Sea-Level rises or storm and flood events.

SHORT ANSWER 1) What are wetlands? 2) What is desertification? 3) What are the causes of desertification?

LONG ANSWER 1) How is Coal formed? 2) Why are wetlands important?