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Wetland Ecosystems

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. An immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals can be part of a wetland ecosystem. Physical and chemical features such as climate, topography, geology, and the movement and abundance of water help to determine the plants and animals that inhabit each wetland.

  • VERNAL POOL - These are small wetland pools that hold water for a short period in early spring. They are usually found in small depressions in woodlands. A rich food supply and lack of vertebrate predators make vernal pools an important habitat for early breeding amphibians such as wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and blue spotted salamanders. Vernal pools are also important habitat for Blandings and spotted turtles.
  • BOGS - These are scrub-shrub wetlands that have floating masses of peat growing outward from shore. Bogs contain oxygen-poor, acidic waters with organic soils. Sphagnum moss, leatherleaf, sheep laurel, black spruce, and pitcher plant are common bog plants. Bog wildlife includes painted turtles, water shrew, pickerel frog, and many songbirds.
  • MARSHES - Marshes have saturated soils and are usually covered with water during the growing season. Cattails, pickerelweed, water lilies, sedges, and rushes are typical marsh plants. Marsh wrens, red-winged blackbirds, painted turtles, bullfrogs, and minks live in marshes.
  • SWAMPS/FORESTED WETLANDS - A swamp is a wetland dominated by trees 20 feet and taller. Usually swamps also contain shrubs and herbaceous plants as well. Red maples are the dominant tree species. Wildlife found in swamps includes heron, swamp sparrow, northern water thrush, and moose.
  • SCRUB-SHRUB - These wetlands are dominated by trees and shrubs that are less than 20 feet tall. They may be seasonally or permanently flooded. Common plants include highbush blueberry, highbush cranberry, buttonbush, alder, willow, dogwood, and red maple. Wildlife using scrub-shrub wetlands are black bear, gray tree frog, wood turtle, Blandings turtle, water snake, and red fox.

Did you know...

  ...that wetlands provide habitat for about one-half of the fish, one-third of the birds, one-fourth of the plants, and one-sixth of the mammals on the U.S. threatened and endangered species lists?

The Blue Heron

    In a green place lanced through
    With amber and gold and blue--
    A place of water and weeds,
    and roses pinker than dawn
    And ranks of lush young reeds
    And grasses straightly withdrawn
    From graven ripples of sands.
    The still blue heron stands.

        Theodore Goodridge Roberts
  

Did you know...

  ...that migratory birds use wetlands for nesting, for wintering, for a food source, and as mating grounds?

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