Why Are Wetlands Important?

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Why Are Wetlands Important?

• By Erin Janes
• Danna Svejkosky
• MARS 689 Wetland Ecology
• Dr. Tom Linton
• Fall 2003

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The Value of Wetlands

• Functions and Values

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Air Quality

• Stability of global levels of1
• Available nitrogen
• Atmospheric sulfur
• Carbon dioxide
• Methane

Photo by Mike P. Murphree
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Water QualityChemical and Physical Properties

• Hydrologic conditions can be modified by
• Nutrient availability
• Degree of substrate anoxia
• Soil salinity
• Sediment properties
• pH

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Water QualityBiotic Properties

• Vegetation can control water conditions through
• Peat building
• Sediment trapping
• Nutrient retention
• Water shading
• Transpiration

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Storm Abatement

• Wetlands act as buffer of storm surge and wave
  energy
• Sustain minimal damage
• Shelter inland property

Regional wetlands are integral parts of larger
landscapesdrainage basins, estuaries.1
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Erosion Control

• Shoreline stabilization
• Aerial parts of marsh plants dissipate wave
  energy
• Both offshore and longshore transport of sediment
  are reduced
• Dense stands can create a depositional
  environment
• Plants form dense root-rhizome mats, adding
  stability to the shore sediment
• Particularly important during winter storms when
  aerial stems provide only limited resistance to
  the impact of waves

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Erosion Control

• Planting marsh grass is a better alternative
  than
• Bulkheads
• Seawalls
• Rip rap

Gulf Intercoastal Waterway
Photo Courtesy of USACE, Galveston District
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Shoreline Erosion Problems?Think Green

• From the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
  (VIMS)

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Flood Protection

• Intercept storm runoff and store storm waters1
• Reduces flood damage caused by peak flows
• Seasonal variations
• Case Study
• USACE study led to Corps decision to purchase
  3,400 hectares of wetlands in the Charles River
  Basin (Massachusetts) to effectively prevent
  flood damage, rather than build expensive
  flood-control structures to protect the city of
  Boston at the savings of 17 million per year.1

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Fish Habitat

• Ecosystem Diversity and Stability
• Spawning Habitat
• Nursery Habitat
• Food Production

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Fish Habitat- Ecosystem Diversity and Stability

• Wetlands play a significant role in maintaining a
  high level of biological diversity.
• Wetlands provide a variety of habitats which
  increases
• species diversity
• species richness
• species numbers

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Fish Habitat- Spawning and Nursery Habitat

• Fish need specific environmental conditions for
  adequate spawning areas and juvenile habitat.
• Spawning fish need
• Good water quality
• Protection from predators
• An adequate place to deposit eggs
• Juvenile fish need
• Food
• Good water quality
• Protection from predators

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Fish Habitat- Food Production

• Nutrients, shallow water, and plants provide the
  necessary elements for the production of algae,
  zooplankton, and invertebrates, which are
  utilized by other fish.

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For the Birds

• Birds use wetlands for
• Breeding
• Nesting
• Rearing young
• A source of drinking water
• Feeding
• Resting
• Shelter
• Social interactions

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Fish and Wildlife Habitat

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimate that
  43 of all threatened and endangered species rely
  directly or indirectly on wetlands for their
  survival.

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Recreation and Economy

• Hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, photography,
  and bird watching opportunities are abundant in
  our wetlands.
• 98 million U.S. adults spend a total of 59.5
  billion annually on recreational activities
  within wetlands.

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Commercial Fisheries and Economy

• Coastal wetlands support 60 - 90 of the
  commercial fisheries in the United States.

• Big Business In Texas2
• Provides jobs for 30,000 residents
• 400 million annually
• Shrimp
• Oysters
• Blue Crab
• Black Drum
• Southern Flounder

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Other Values

• Historical
• Archeological finds suggesting the use of
  wetlands for a variety of subsistence and
  commercial uses
• Scientific/Educational
• Scientific research to further our understanding
  of the ecology, geology, chemistry, etc. of the
  Earth
• Source of community education
• Cultural
• Representation of a community heritage

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Other Values, cont.

• Aesthetics
• High quality of life enjoyed by the general
  public and property owners