Swamps Marshes Bogs Fens Vernal Pools

Wetlands:Wetlands:Wetlands:Wetlands: Many Many ManyMany Names, Names,Names, OneOne Definition DefinitionDefinition

Swamp Pothole Marsh Slough Bog Bayou Fen Quagmire Forested wetland Muskeg Scrub-shrub wetland Pocosin Emergent wetland Slough Vernal pool Mire Glade Objectives: 1) List the 7 types of wetlands found in Pennsylvania. Provide one characteristic for each. 2) Define Hydric Soils and Flat Hydrophytic Plants 3) explain what is mean by a hydroperiod.

CommonCommonWetlands:Wetlands: Wetlands WetlandsManyMany Names,Names, inin One OnePennsylvaniaPennsylvania DefinitionDefinition Wetlands:Wetlands: ManyManySwampsSwamps Names,Names, OneOne DefinitionDefinition

•Near waterways •Shallow water – may dry up in summer Swamps Forested wetlands •Woody plants Marshes Scrub-shrub wetlands Bogs Emergent wetlands Fens Vernal pools

Credit: http://dnr.state.il.us/wetlands/swamp.htm

Wetlands:Wetlands: ManyManyMarshesMarshes Names,Names, OneOne DefinitionDefinition Wetlands:Wetlands: ManyMany Bogs Names,BogsNames, OneOne DefinitionDefinition

•Along coasts and •In deep depressions that don’t drain waterways •Peat, sphagnum moss •Large marshes up to 7 •Acidic, often very deep, water feet deep; small marshes •Evergreen trees & shrubs may dry up in summer. •Soft-stemmed vegetation •Geneva Marsh = largest Credit: http://dnr.state.il.us/wetlands/marsh.htm freshwater marsh in the state

Credit: http://dnr.state.il.us/wetlands/bog.htm

1 Wetlands:Wetlands: ManyMany FensNames,FensNames, OneOne DefinitionDefinition

•In depressions that drain somewhat •Peat •Basic, shallow water that could dry up in summer •Sedges (have 3 edges), grasses, small shrubs

Credit: http://dnr.state.il.us/wetlands/fen.htm

Credit: http://forages.orst.edu/projects/regrowth/print-s Credit : Wow! The Wonders of Wetlands ection.cfm?title=Grass%20Structures

Wetlands:Wetlands: ManyManyVernalVernal Names,Names, PoolsPools OneOne DefinitionDefinition Wetlands:Wetlands:ForestedForested ManyMany Names,Names, WetlandsWetlands OneOne DefinitionDefinition

•“Temporary wetlands”-no fish •Vary in size •Large woody trees •Fill in spring and •45% of PA wetlands early summer after snow melts and early rains Credit: http://dnr.state.il.us/wetlands/ch13b.htm •Important amphibian and macroinvertebrate breeding grounds

Wetlands:Wetlands:Scrub-ShrubScrub-Shrub ManyMany Names,Names, WetlandsWetlands OneOne DefinitionDefinition Wetlands:Wetlands:EmergentEmergent ManyMany Names,Names, WetlandsWetlands OneOne DefinitionDefinition

•Emergent plants •Grasses, sedges, rushes (round), and soft stemmed herbaceous plants •Small trees and shrubs •14% of PA wetlands •28% of PA wetlands

Credit: http://dnr.state.il.us/wetlands/scrub-shrub.htm

Grass Sedge Rush Credit:http://www.applieder.com/DCP_1358.JPG

2 ThreeThree DefiningDefining CharacteristicsCharacteristics HYDROLOGYHYDROLOGY

1) Hydrology (WATER) Wetlands, (The science of water, its properties, distribution and including those circulation, both on the surface and underground.) found in the transition areas between lakes, 2)Hydric soils (SOIL) streams or (Saturated, oxygen-deficient soils.) oceans and the upland, gain and lose water through a 3)Hydrophytic vegetation (PLANTS) number of processes. (Plants adapted to standing water and saturated Credit: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/wetlands/wetlands4_hydrology.htm soil conditions.) All three are interrelated.

WaterWater InputsInputs andand OutputsOutputs HydroperiodHydroperiod

INPUTS : • Wetlands are “wet” for Water enters wetlands varying periods of time, through precipitation, groundwater discharge, depending on the and surface flow (runoff, volume of water inputs, streams and tides). outputs, and storage. OUTPUTS : • This cyclical and Water leaves wetlands seasonal pattern of through evapotranspiration, water in a wetland is groundwater recharge, and referred to as the surface flow. HYDROPERIOD. Credit: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/wetlands/wetlands4_hydrology.htm Water that does not Inputs = Outputs + Storage leave wetlands is stored.

HydrologyHydrology FactorsFactors LandscapeLandscape EffectsEffects onon HydrologyHydrology

Hydrology is influenced by: Wetlands exist…

• Landscape Credit: http://www.sawmillcreek.com/marina_yacht_club.html •Geology •Soil texture and drainage •Plant cover •Season / climate

Credit: http://www.vso.cape.com/~nhv/_images/ecoast3.jpg

…on the fringes of lakes and oceans,

3 LandscapeLandscape EffectsEffects onon HydrologyHydrology LandscapeLandscape EffectsEffects onon HydrologyHydrology

…in depressions at or below the water table, …in floodplains,

Credit: US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Training Workshop Credit: US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Training Workshop

Credit: http://courses.smsu.edu/ejm893f/creative/WeathStrem/floodplain.jpg

LandscapeLandscape EffectsEffects onon HydrologyHydrology DelineatingDelineating WetlandsWetlands

…on slopes fed by groundwater, In order for an area to be designated as a wetland, there has to be excess water long enough for hydric soils to develop and to be able to support predominately hydrophytic (water loving) vegetation .