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Wetlands
are the intermediate between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Essentially an ecotone, wetlands have characteristics of
both environments, but also are distinctly different from the two. Wetlands are characterized by the saturation of their soil
by water either annually or periodically, which allows them to support a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic organisms.
The presence of wet, however, creates an oxygen-poor soil environment, favoring water-adapted plants (hydrophytes), such as
cattail, lilies, and mangrove trees. These hydrophytes form the base of the food chain in wetland environments and serve as
the producers; these plants support the wide variety of species that inhabit the wetlands, including various species of waterfowl,
amphibians, alligators, crocodiles, and several hundred species of insects.
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| Swamp |
Wetlands
can be placed in four categories:
- Marshes – wetlands characterized by soft-stemmed plants (reeds, grass)
- Swamps – mostly woody vegetation (trees, woody bushes)
- Bogs – acidic peat (decaying plant matter) land
- Fens – basic peat land
- (Vernal Pools)
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| Marsh |
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