1. Wetland Plant Population Study- Understanding Niches
Determining Niches of Plant Species in Saline Wetlands

2. I. What is a Wetland? A. Wetlands:
1. Definition: transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
2. Defining characteristics:
a. Vegetation - supports plants that have adapted to grow submerged in water
b. Soil - substrate is mostly waterlogged clay soil
c. Hydrology - area saturated by water for part or all of year -

3. I. What is a Wetland? A. Wetlands:
1. Definition: transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
2. Defining characteristics:
a. Vegetation - supports plants that have adapted to grow submerged in water
b. Soil - substrate is mostly waterlogged clay soil
c. Hydrology - area saturated by water for part or all of year -

4. II. Wetland Values (continued)
2. Fish & Wildlife Habitat
1. Species use wetlands for breeding, raising young, feeding, nesting & cover
3. Flood Control- Reduced Storm Impact
1. Slow runoff by acting as sponges
2. Detention basin - retain flood waters
3. Reduce riverbank erosion
4. Water Quality Improvement - “Wetlands = Kidneys of the Land”
1. Sediment removal - water slows down & sediment drops out
2. Filtration/biological uptake- susceptible to toxic accumulation
3. Wetlands constructed for the purpose of treating storm & wastewater .

5. II. Wetland Values (continued)
5. Shore Stabilization
1. Unprotected shores more susceptible to erosion
6. Groundwater Recharge - net movement of surface water to groundwater
1. Recharge as a function of soil depth, permeability & bedrock
7. Recreation
Hunting, bird watching,water recreation
8. Education
9. Aesthetic Value

6. III. Wetland Loss & Conservation
A. Reasons for Wetland Loss & Conservation
1. Urbanization
2. Farming
3. Salt production

7. Challenges of Living in a Salt Marsh
A. Defining Abiotic Characteristics of Salt Marshes
1. Hydrology - saturated by water for at least all or part of the year
2. Soil - mostly waterlogged clay soils 3. Salinity - organisms must cope with salt
B. Wetland Plant Adaptations
1. Plants - adapted to grow saturated by water
hollow passages from leaves to roots for air movement
oxidation of the surrounding soil
reversing osmotic flow by salt concentration
excretion of salt by glands on leaves and stems

8. What happens when organisms rely on the same resources?
competition = interactions between organisms using the same resources - often in short supply

9. Principle of Competitive Exclusion
If two species are in competition for the same limited resource, one will be eliminated in situations where they occur together.

10. © 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning
Principle of Competitive Exclusion
Number of individuals
Species 1
Species 2
Region of
niche overlap
Resource use
Number of individuals
Species 1
Species 2
Resource use

11. How can similar species coexist in natural communities?
ecological niche = role played by an organism the way it makes its living
(niche = “occupation” habitat = “home”)
resource partitioning = coexisting species use slightly different portions of an available resource.
examples:

12. Black-throated green Warbler
The colored areas indicate the feeding zones of these five species of N. American Warblers. The partitioning of resources allows all species to feed off the same tree.
Cape May Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
“Myrtle” Warbler
Black-throated green Warbler

13. Realized Niche = portion of the fundamental niche actually utilized.
Fundamental Niche = niche occupied by an organism in absence of competition.
Realized Niche = portion of the fundamental niche actually utilized.
Smaller organisms are typically able to exploit more niches.

14. High Tide
Chthamalus barnacles
Fundamental Niches
Realized Niches
Ocean
Balanus barnacles
Low Tide

15. Matt Goo, 2007
The Effect of

17. Realized Niches of Salt Marsh Plants (Generalized)