aquatic science and wetland management pdf

Many of the animal species found in wetlands can be completely aquatic, such as fish.

Wetland plants are specially adapted to live in the saturated soil. Next time you visit a wetland grab a bit of the bottom and give it a good smell.

The rich detritus nourishes a complex food web that supports a wide range of plants and animals. It may be stinky, but the smell tells us the wetland is healthy. Once this happens anaerobic bacteria, which do not need oxygen, take over and do the majority of work in the wetland feeding on detritus to break it down.Īs these decomposers break down the detritus, they may produce sulfur-containing compounds that smell like rotten eggs. These bacteria require dissolved oxygen in the water which can quickly be used up by the bacteria. Aerobic bacteria play a role in the initial decomposition process. Two types of decomposers help break down detritus. Mixed in with this water are tiny creatures that break down dead plant and animal matter which is called detritus. Smelly and biologically diverseīecause wetland soil is saturated or covered with water, the tiny spaces between the soil’s bits of dirt stay filled with water, leaving little or no room for air to get in. But if you dig a hole, the hole will fill with water. Some may even appear dry when it doesn’t rain for a long time. All wetlands are wet for a major part of the plant growing season. The key ingredient in a wetland is always water. It’s a zone of transition - not dry, not a pond, but not land either.

Wetlands are places where the land and water meet.

Aquatic science and wetland management pdf