Geography and Ecology of Wetlands

Wetland is an area of land that is covered by water or saturated with water. The soil of wetland is known as Hydraulic soil and shaped by water.Wetland soils are submerged in water for parts of the year. Wetlands vary greatly throughout the world  because the the composition of the hydraulic soil  and water.

Wetlands occur in all regions throughout the world except Antarctica. There are wetlands in the Arctic  that include fens, swamps, marshes, and bogs, wetlands along coastlines like mangrove forests, coastal swamps, and tidal marshes, and wetlands throughout inland regions  like ponds, marshes, swamps, vernal pools.

Wetlands provide habitat and food resources for wide variety of species. They have high level of nutrients and abundant water supply. It is an ideal habitat for fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects. Many birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, breeding grounds, and shelter.

Wetlands are of three types. They are Swamps, Marshes and Bogs. Swamp is a wetland permanently saturated with water. There are two types of swamps: Fresh water swamps and Salt water swamp. Fresh water swamps are common in inland areas and salt water swamps protect coastal area from the open  ocean. Fresh water swamps are found near lakes and streams where water table is high. Plants like lotus, cypress grow in these swamps and these are the main vegetation of  this ecosystem. Reptiles and amphibians thrive in freshwater swamps because they are adapted to the fluctuating water levels.

Salt water swamps are found along the tropical coastline. Saltwater swamps are not entirely seawater, but they are not freshwater, either. The water is brackish, a combination of both fresh and salt water.  Mangroves grow in salt water swamps. They have thick interlocking system of roots. Mangroves are easy to recognize because of the tall, stilt-like roots, which hold the small trunks and branches of the trees above water. Many organisms  like crabs, conches, and shellfish live in mangrove roots. They provide home to wide variety of birds. Mangrove roots and branches are excellent nesting sites. Sea gulls and herons are some birds.

Several insects like honey bees, different types of algae, moss, smaller birds like sparrows, storks,kingfisher etc, smaller animals like lizards, tortoise, snakes including pythons, tree like palm trees, wild animals like tiger, elephants etc are abundant in this ecosystem. We see rich biodiversity in salt water swamps.

Marshes are wetlands, form a flat, grassy fringe near river mouths, in bays, and along coastlines. Marshes are also of two types. They are: Fresh water marshes and Salt water marshes. Salt water marshes  are the richest ecosystems for biodiversity. Dominated by grasses, they provide food and shelter for algae, fungi, shellfish, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Wading birds and other animals and several insects feed on the vegetation. Wide variety of birds is also found. Fresh water  marshes have abundant varieties of orchids, panther etc.  Wetlands are vital and valuable ecosystem on the earth. 

 Their ecological uses are:

• Wetlands absorb excess of water during heavy rains and limit floods. Wetlands also protects coastal areas during storm that washes away fragile beaches.
• Wetland plants like algae, fungi, etc filter waste and purify water. Hence wetlands have inbuilt water treatment facilities. They help purify water by filtering out pollutants, which become trapped in the sediment which later becomes nutrient for the vegetation.
• Wetlands help control floods by acting as reservoirs for excess water. Much of this water goes to replenish ground-water supplies.Wetlands also prevent soil erosion, and they buffer water bodies from potentially damaging land use activities such as agriculture.
• Wetlands can remove and store greenhouse gases from the Earth’s atmosphere, slowing the onset of global warming.

Importance of Wetlands:

• A great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, lives in marshes and swamps. Some species live there throughout the year; others only during their breeding season.
• Many animals that live in marshes and swamps are of economic importance, including fish, shellfish, fur-bearing animals, and waterfowl.
• Wetlands are excellent sources of timber.
• Wetlands offer sites for recreational activities, such as fishing, hunting, and bird-watching.

Why Wetlands are Endangered?

Throughout the world, many marshes and swamps have been drained or altered for such purposes like griculture, urban development, and mosquito abatement. Several Wetlands have been used as dumping  sites  for urban waste. Wetlands are diminishing from our ecosystem. So the destruction of wetlands has resulted in  increased flooding, ground water depletion, and loss of wildlife.

The Govenment and the public should take effective steps to protect and preserve wetlands to maintain  ecological equilibrium.

“Save Wetlands to conserve Natural Resources”

“Save Wetlands to save the rich Biodiversity of the Earth”