An Introduction to Wetlands

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An Introduction to Wetlands

• What are wetlands?
• What are the major factors defining wetlands?
• What are the different types of wetlands?

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• Wetlands are transitional environments between
  uplands and fully aquatic environments
• They are defined on the basis of
• Hydrology presence and duration of water
• Vegetation dominance of vegetation adapted to
  saturated soil conditions
• Soils poorly drained and with evidence of low
  or fluctuating oxygen

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Wetland Hydrology

• Area is inundated or saturated to the surface for
  at least 5 of the growing season in most years
• Growing season is based on soil temperature and
  is determined for regions by the USDA
• Most years 51 out of 100 years

Wetlands are NOT always wet!
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Hydrophytic Vegetation

• Plant species that are adapted for life in
  saturated soils
• Anaerobic soil conditions
• Soggy or waterlogged soils
• Require adaptations for better support
• Require adaptations for gas exchange
• Hydrophytes are plants growing in water or on
  substrates that are periodically deficient in
  oxygen

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Hydrophytes

• Plants classified by tendency to occur in
  wetlands
• Obligate Almost always occur in wetlands (gt99)
• Facultative Wetland Usually occur in wetlands
  (67-99)
• Facultative Equally likely to occur in wetlands
  or non-wetlands (33-67)
• Facultative Upland Usually occur in non-wetland
  (67-99) but occasionally in wetlands (1-33)
• Upland Almost always occur in non-wetlands
  (gt99)
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• List of Plants that commonly occur in wetlands
• By Region Indiana is Region 3

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Tree showing buttressed roots and water level
staining
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Trees with Buttressed Roots and Cattails (open
chambers in stems)
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Hydric Soil

• A soil that is saturated, flooded, or ponded long
  enough during the growing season to develop
  anaerobic conditions in the root zone
• Tend to be dark in color and have mottles of iron
  staining

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Five Major Wetland Systems

• Marine Associated with Coastal Areas
• Estuarine Associated with Estuaries (places
  where salt water and fresh water mix along
  coastlines)
• Riverine Associated with Rivers
• Lacustrine Associated with Lakes
• Palustrine Occur in Topographic Low Spots

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Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Salt Marsh
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Mangrove Swamp Everglades National Park
Estuarine Wetland
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Ritchey Woods Natural Area Riparian Wetland
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Point Pelee National Park Ontario, Canada -
Lacustrine
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Western US - Palustrine Wetland in topographic
low
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Ritchey Woods Natural Area Forested Wetland
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Photo Marion Jackson
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