Habitats


All wetlands have 3 characteristics in common: vegetation - support predominantly hydrophytes hydrology - saturated soil, flooded for some time in a year soil - hydric soil or non-soil substrate (gravel or sand)

1) Wetlands

Type   Distribution Aquatic Plants  Hydrology
Freshwater marshes  widespread  grasses, sedges (Carex)  seasonal to permanent flooding
Tidal Marshes coastal   halophytic grasses (Spartina),sedges(Juncus) /rush daily, monthly (salt and brackish) flooding
Prairie Potholes Northern Plains  grasses, sedges, temporary to herbaceous plants permanent flooding
Fens near mineral rich soil  grasses, sedges,shrubs, and trees  permanently flooded with flowing water (peat
accumulating)
Bog (moor) 

peat accumulating      

   

 -caused by glaciation sphagnum moss, shrubs, trees, desmids        frequent precipitation

-no significant in-flow or out-flow
Swamp fairly widespread     large trees (Cypres, Gum)  (Taxodium nyssa) prolonged standing water
Bottomlands  along streams and rivers large trees (Oaks, Maples)  seasonal flooding but also an annual dry periods
Mangroves  tropical/subtropical regions    red,white,black mangrove spp.

(Rhizophora, Avicennia, Laguncularia)

 tidal flush & freshwater coming in
Vernal Pools Texas, California Aquatic grasses, algae Seasonal flooding
Slough Cal, Gulf Coast Sedges, Halophytes Permanantly flooded

-slow flow
Bays, Lagoons coastal areas          seagrasses (Eelgrass,turtlegrass)       open salt water
Playas      southwest U.S.  only along edges, grasses, some sedges   seasonal wetland
Riparian Areas widespread, any type of grasses, sedges, trees  periodic flooding, high water table 

riverine environment   

  
-Cienega - freshwater marsh, usually in rigarien zone

-In the southwest US and Mexico a similar ecological zone is called a bosque - a gallery forest, usually in a riparian zone. These are populated by mesquite trees and grasses, and are usually only flooded in really big storms)
-Riparian zones represent an area between aquatic environments and terrestrial ecosystems.
-Riparian zones are extensive in the eastern US. One survey reported 22.9 million hectares in the continental US (mostly in the east) plus 12 million more in Alaska.
-These areas have been heavily settled, farmed, logged, and irrigated.
-Arizona has about 100,000 hectares left.
-In higher elevations, alders and poplars are common riparian trees. Cottonwood, willows, and ash are found in lower elevations

3) Open Water Habitats

Definitions:
                 Lentic - open water ponds and lakes having submergent plants in the middle, some emergent vegetation along the sides, and sometimes floating plants, especially in the tropics.
                 Lotic - flowing waters, streams and rivers, mostly having submerged and emergent plants.

The plant distribution in open water is controlled by the turbidity of the water, the availability of sunlight for photosynthesis (competition with algae), and water motion.

4) Anthropogenic (manmade)

Reservoirs and irrigation systems are examples of manmade aquatic environments. These are dependent on substrate (sometimes concrete or soil conveyance systems), water flow, and nutrients (return water is nutrient rich in an irrigation system).

-Pondweed, Potamogeton, Spiny Naiad, and Chara are all common on concrete substrates.

Book uses this organization:

Coastal wetlands

Inland Wetlands