| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Wetlands | transitional areas between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems |
| 3 defining characteristics | hydric soils, hydrophilic plants, a specific hydrologic rigime |
| wetlands occupy ---- of the earths surface | 6% |
| Physical functions: | Flood control, coastal protection,sediment traps, atmospheric equilibrium |
| chemical functions | pollution interception, waste treatment |
| biological function | Detritus |
| Detritus | dead and decaying plant matter |
| high primary productivity | 24% of global productivity |
| % of major crops grown & drained on wetland soils | 25% |
| crops: | rice & cranberries |
| fuel: | peat is mined and used as fuel |
| timber: | gets cut |
| wetland pyramid (top from bottom) | large carnivores, medium carnivores, small carnivores, herbivores, zooplankton, phytoplankton & plants! |
| pyramid of biomass | carnivores-3% herbivores-10% plants-87% |
| HUMAN IMPACTS | drainage, diking & daming, grazing by domesticated animals, mining alteration of hydrology, discharge of pollutants |
| natural threats | erosion, subsidence, droughts, hurricanes, overgrazing wildlife |
| 200 years ago 215 million wetlands...now??? | 100million |
| 50% loss of each seperate | spawning grounds for fish, waterfowl habitat, flood control capability, erosion control & sediment trapping capability |
| major reason 4 loss: | biological alterations, chemical alterations, physical destruction |
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