Wetland Ecosystems A Unit Overview Mr. E. Larson.

Wetland EcosystemsWetland Ecosystems

A Unit OverviewA Unit Overview

Mr. E. LarsonMr. E. Larson

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions Can you describe the living and non-living components Can you describe the living and non-living components

of a wetland ecosystem?of a wetland ecosystem? Can you identify the interactions among the components Can you identify the interactions among the components

of an ecosystem?of an ecosystem? Can you recognize and describe a variety of wetland Can you recognize and describe a variety of wetland

ecosystems?ecosystems? Can you identify some plants and animals found in a Can you identify some plants and animals found in a

wetland?wetland? Can you recognize and describe lifecycles of some Can you recognize and describe lifecycles of some

plants and animals?plants and animals? Can you identify and describe adaptations made by Can you identify and describe adaptations made by

plants and animals for life in the wetlands?plants and animals for life in the wetlands?

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions Do you understand that all plants and animals have an Do you understand that all plants and animals have an

important role in the wetlands?important role in the wetlands? Can you identify the roles of different organisms in the Can you identify the roles of different organisms in the

food web? Producers, Consumers and Decomposers?food web? Producers, Consumers and Decomposers? Can you draw a food chain and food web diagram?Can you draw a food chain and food web diagram? Can you identify how different organisms breathe?Can you identify how different organisms breathe? Can you identify the impact humans have on the Can you identify the impact humans have on the

wetland?wetland? Can you identify ways humans can preserve and Can you identify ways humans can preserve and

enhance the wetlands?enhance the wetlands? Do you understand how the environment effects the Do you understand how the environment effects the

wetlands?wetlands?

What is a wetland?What is a wetland?

Wetlands are areas that are too wet to be Wetlands are areas that are too wet to be considered land but not wet enough to be considered land but not wet enough to be considered lakes. They have poor considered lakes. They have poor drainage for the soil and no clear banks or drainage for the soil and no clear banks or beds like lakes. Wetlands can be beds like lakes. Wetlands can be permanent (there all year like ponds) or permanent (there all year like ponds) or temporary (there once in a while like temporary (there once in a while like puddles)puddles)

A more scientific definitionA more scientific definition A wetland is an area of land which is saturated A wetland is an area of land which is saturated

with water long enough to have poorly drained with water long enough to have poorly drained soil. There needs to be significant interaction of soil. There needs to be significant interaction of living and non-living things, which contribute to living and non-living things, which contribute to the conditions of the water, land, and soil. The the conditions of the water, land, and soil. The depth of the water does not exceed 6 meters. depth of the water does not exceed 6 meters. They do not have well defined beds and banks.They do not have well defined beds and banks.

There are five main types of wetlands found in There are five main types of wetlands found in Alberta; bog, fen, swamp, marsh (slough), and Alberta; bog, fen, swamp, marsh (slough), and pond.pond.

BogBog

A bog is the most A bog is the most common type of common type of wetland found in wetland found in Northern Canada.Northern Canada.

They are acidic. They They are acidic. They are primarily made up are primarily made up of water but have a lot of water but have a lot vegetation.vegetation.

FenFen

They are similar to They are similar to bogs, but they are not bogs, but they are not acidic.acidic.

They are fed by rain They are fed by rain water and are water and are primarily made up of primarily made up of mosses.mosses.

SwampSwamp

In a swamp, the water In a swamp, the water is standing or gently is standing or gently flowing between trees flowing between trees and wooded areas.and wooded areas.

They are also known They are also known as wetlands forests or as wetlands forests or wooded wetlands.wooded wetlands.

They may form along They may form along the shores of rivers or the shores of rivers or lakes.lakes.

Marsh (slough)Marsh (slough)

These are wetlands that These are wetlands that have standing or slow-have standing or slow-moving water. moving water.

Soft stemmed plants Soft stemmed plants surround them. Plants surround them. Plants have their roots in the have their roots in the water and their stems and water and their stems and leaves out of the water.leaves out of the water.

They are found in grassy They are found in grassy meadows with shrubs or meadows with shrubs or trees nearby.trees nearby.

PondPond

A body of water that A body of water that is smaller than a lake.is smaller than a lake.

A pond is smaller, A pond is smaller, shallower and has shallower and has more vegetation in more vegetation in and around it.and around it.

They can be natural They can be natural or man-made.or man-made.

How is a lake different from a How is a lake different from a wetland?wetland?

A pond is usually an older lake. Lakes A pond is usually an older lake. Lakes gradually get older over time. gradually get older over time.

As they get older, they have more As they get older, they have more vegetation growing in and around them. vegetation growing in and around them.

They also become shallower, as the water They also become shallower, as the water begins to evaporate over time.begins to evaporate over time.

EcosystemsEcosystems

An ecosystem is made up of all of the An ecosystem is made up of all of the living and non-living things in an area.living and non-living things in an area.

Living things are all plants and animals in Living things are all plants and animals in an area. an area.

Non-living things include air, soil, water, Non-living things include air, soil, water, sunlight, rocks, chemicals in soil, dead sunlight, rocks, chemicals in soil, dead matter and wind, etc. matter and wind, etc.

Wetland EcosystemsWetland Ecosystems

All living and non-living things in an All living and non-living things in an ecosystem interacts. A wetland ecosystem interacts. A wetland ecosystem is all biotic and abiotic ecosystem is all biotic and abiotic components that are found in and around components that are found in and around a wetlanda wetland

Abiotic means non-living things, Biotic Abiotic means non-living things, Biotic means living things.means living things.

Classification Classification

All living things can be classified into two All living things can be classified into two categories. Plants and animals.categories. Plants and animals.

Plants are called producersPlants are called producers

Animals are classified into either mollusks, Animals are classified into either mollusks, crustaceans, insects, arachnids, fish, crustaceans, insects, arachnids, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

PlantsPlants

A plant is an organism that takes energy A plant is an organism that takes energy from the sun and converts it into food. from the sun and converts it into food. Plants are producers, which means they Plants are producers, which means they produce their own food.produce their own food.

Plants include all vegetation, basically Plants include all vegetation, basically anything that is green. Plants include all anything that is green. Plants include all plant life and trees. plant life and trees.

Types of TreesTypes of Trees

Trees are classified into two categories.Trees are classified into two categories.

Coniferous- which are trees that keep their Coniferous- which are trees that keep their leaves all year round.leaves all year round.

Deciduous- which are trees that loose their Deciduous- which are trees that loose their leaves in the fall.leaves in the fall.

Coniferous TreesConiferous Trees

Deciduous TreesDeciduous Trees

AnimalsAnimals

All animals can be divided into these All animals can be divided into these categories:categories:

MulluscMullusc AmphibianAmphibian CrustaceanCrustacean ReptileReptile ArachnidArachnid BirdsBirds FishFish MammalMammal

Mollusks (Molluscs)Mollusks (Molluscs)

A mollusk is an A mollusk is an animal that does not animal that does not have a backbone. It have a backbone. It has a soft body has a soft body without segments and without segments and usually has a hard usually has a hard shell covering its shell covering its body.body.

Examples are squid, Examples are squid, octopus, clams, snailsoctopus, clams, snails

CrustaceansCrustaceans

A crustacean is an A crustacean is an animal that does not animal that does not have a backbone. It have a backbone. It has jointed legs, a has jointed legs, a hard shell (an hard shell (an external skeleton) and external skeleton) and two sets of antennae.two sets of antennae.

They include lobsters, They include lobsters, crabs, shrimpcrabs, shrimp

InsectsInsects

An insect is an animal An insect is an animal that does not have a that does not have a backbone. Its body is backbone. Its body is divided into three divided into three parts. A head, thorax, parts. A head, thorax, and abdomen. It has and abdomen. It has six legs and usually six legs and usually two or four wings. It two or four wings. It has one set of has one set of antennae. antennae.

ArachnidsArachnids

An arachnid is an An arachnid is an animal that does not animal that does not have a backbone. It have a backbone. It has eight walking has eight walking legs, no antennae or legs, no antennae or wins. Usually its body wins. Usually its body is divided into two is divided into two parts.parts.

Spiders are Spiders are arachnids.arachnids.

FishFish

A fish is a cold- A fish is a cold- blooded animal that blooded animal that has a backbone. It has a backbone. It uses gills to breath uses gills to breath oxygen in water. oxygen in water. They have fins and They have fins and usually scales.usually scales.

AmphibiansAmphibians

An amphibian is a An amphibian is a cold-blooded animal cold-blooded animal with a backbone. It with a backbone. It begins its life living in begins its life living in water, breathing with water, breathing with gills. Later in life, it gills. Later in life, it grows lungs and can grows lungs and can live on land.live on land.

Examples are Frogs, Examples are Frogs, toads, salamanderstoads, salamanders

ReptilesReptiles

A reptile is a cold-A reptile is a cold-blooded animal that blooded animal that has a backbone. Its has a backbone. Its body is covered in body is covered in scales. It has lungs scales. It has lungs and breathes air.and breathes air.

Examples are lizards, Examples are lizards, snakes, turtles, snakes, turtles, alligators and alligators and crocodilescrocodiles

BirdsBirds

A bird is a warm-A bird is a warm-blooded animal with a blooded animal with a backbone. It lays backbone. It lays eggs and has eggs and has feathers covering the feathers covering the body. It has wings body. It has wings and is able to fly.and is able to fly.

MammalsMammals

A mammal is a warm-A mammal is a warm-blooded animal with a blooded animal with a backbone. Females backbone. Females have a gland to have a gland to produce milk to feed produce milk to feed their young. They are their young. They are mostly covered in mostly covered in hair. There are many hair. There are many types of mammals, types of mammals, from beavers, rats, from beavers, rats, wolves and foxes.wolves and foxes.

More ClassificationMore Classification

All living organisms can be classified into All living organisms can be classified into three main categories: three main categories:

ProducersProducers ConsumersConsumers DecomposersDecomposers

ProducersProducers

Producers are organisms that produce Producers are organisms that produce their own food.their own food.

Most producers are plantsMost producers are plants

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

This the process in which plants produce their This the process in which plants produce their own food. They take in the sun’s light, use water own food. They take in the sun’s light, use water and carbon dioxide to produce food energy (a and carbon dioxide to produce food energy (a sugar carbohydrate) and oxygen.sugar carbohydrate) and oxygen.

Plants produce oxygen for us to breathe.Plants produce oxygen for us to breathe.

They use chlorophyll to produce food, it is the They use chlorophyll to produce food, it is the green part of the plant.green part of the plant.

ConsumersConsumers

Consumers are organisms that have to eat Consumers are organisms that have to eat other organisms to get energy. They other organisms to get energy. They cannot produce their own food.cannot produce their own food.

Consumers are grouped into three Consumers are grouped into three categories. Herbivores, Omnivores and categories. Herbivores, Omnivores and Carnivore.Carnivore.

HerbivoresHerbivores

These are consumers These are consumers who only eat plants.who only eat plants.

CarnivoresCarnivores

Carnivores are Carnivores are consumers that only consumers that only eat other consumers. eat other consumers. They only eat meat.They only eat meat.

OmnivoresOmnivores

Omnivores are Omnivores are consumers that eat consumers that eat plants, but they also plants, but they also eat other consumers.eat other consumers.

Food PyramidFood Pyramid

DecomposersDecomposers

Decomposers are Decomposers are organisms that break organisms that break down dead material down dead material into nutrients.into nutrients.

Decomposers are Decomposers are organisms like organisms like worms, fungi, moss, worms, fungi, moss, lichen, maggots.lichen, maggots.

Parts of a Pond Parts of a Pond

Emergent Zone- all plants that grow Emergent Zone- all plants that grow outside of the water.outside of the water.

Submerging Zone- all plants that grow Submerging Zone- all plants that grow under the waterunder the water

Life CyclesLife Cycles

A life cycle is the stages in an organisms A life cycle is the stages in an organisms life.Most organism start as an egg- move life.Most organism start as an egg- move to young, then to an adult.to young, then to an adult.

Other organism go through Other organism go through metamorphosis- which is a change from metamorphosis- which is a change from young to adult, where the body changes young to adult, where the body changes form. Example a butterfly.form. Example a butterfly.

Life cycle of a ButterflyLife cycle of a Butterfly

Life Cycle of a FrogLife Cycle of a Frog

Life Cycle of a DragonflyLife Cycle of a Dragonfly

Plant Life CyclesPlant Life Cycles

Most plants go from seed, Most plants go from seed, to plant.to plant.

The plant is physically the The plant is physically the same, but at it grows same, but at it grows older, it grows larger.older, it grows larger.

Basically, a young plant is Basically, a young plant is

a smaller version of a a smaller version of a adult plantadult plant

AdaptationsAdaptations

Many organisms have special adaptations Many organisms have special adaptations so that they can survive in the wetlands.so that they can survive in the wetlands.

An adaptations is a change in an An adaptations is a change in an organisms body that helps them survive in organisms body that helps them survive in and around the wetlands.and around the wetlands.

Types of AdaptationsTypes of Adaptations

Locomotion- the act or power of moving from Locomotion- the act or power of moving from one place to another.one place to another.

Structural Support- act or power of holding it up.Structural Support- act or power of holding it up. Stomata- small opening on leaves that give off Stomata- small opening on leaves that give off

gases.gases. Nocturnal- animals that are active at nightNocturnal- animals that are active at night Pincer- a clawPincer- a claw Predator- animal that eats other animalsPredator- animal that eats other animals Parasite- an organism that lives in or on other Parasite- an organism that lives in or on other

organisms.organisms.

Identify the adaptationIdentify the adaptation

Animal AdaptationsAnimal Adaptations

Beaver-Beaver- tail to help build dam, swim. tail to help build dam, swim. Teeth to chew down trees. Oily fur that is Teeth to chew down trees. Oily fur that is waterproof.waterproof.

Trout-Trout- Fins for swimming, gills for Fins for swimming, gills for breathingbreathing

MosquitoMosquito- mouth that is like a needle to - mouth that is like a needle to pierce skin and suck up bloodpierce skin and suck up blood

Crow-Crow- hollow bones for flying. Pointy hollow bones for flying. Pointy beak to find food.beak to find food.

Plant AdaptationsPlant Adaptations

Plants have adaptations too. They grow Plants have adaptations too. They grow taller to reach sunlight. taller to reach sunlight.

Some have larger leaves in darker areas Some have larger leaves in darker areas or wetter environments for photosynthesis. or wetter environments for photosynthesis.

Some plants grow long, shallow roots Some plants grow long, shallow roots

Food WebFood Web

All organism need to get energy to survive.All organism need to get energy to survive.

Plants (producers) get energy from the sun and Plants (producers) get energy from the sun and from water.from water.

Consumers get energy from what they eat. Consumers get energy from what they eat.

Decomposers get energy from the what has Decomposers get energy from the what has died.died.

Food Web Food Web

Food WebFood Web

Food ChainFood Chain

All organisms are connected in a food All organisms are connected in a food chain or web. chain or web.

An animal relies on another organism to An animal relies on another organism to survivesurvive

Food ChainsFood Chains

Examples of a food ChainsExamples of a food Chains

mosquito mosquito frog frog Snake Snake

Leech Leech Red Winged Blackbird Red Winged Blackbird Fox Fox

ConservationConservation

Why is it important to conserve the Why is it important to conserve the wetlands? They are a very important part wetlands? They are a very important part the Earth’s ecosystemthe Earth’s ecosystem

What does conservation mean? What does conservation mean? Conservation means to preserve or save. Conservation means to preserve or save.

Benefits of the WetlandsBenefits of the Wetlands

The Wetlands filter pollution from the land The Wetlands filter pollution from the land and soiland soil

The wetlands provide oxygen for a wide The wetlands provide oxygen for a wide variety of organisms.variety of organisms.

The wetlands provide for many, many The wetlands provide for many, many organisms. organisms.