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WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey

WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

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IMPORTANCES OF WETLANDS  High number of animals and plants species.  Are very important to ecosystems for a variety of reasons including feeding downstream waters, trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, removing pollution and providing fish and wildlife habitat.  Agriculture (with crop fields on river floodplain soils and rice fields as major examples).  Recreation (boating, fishing, swimming, bird watching, and hunting).

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Page 1: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

WETLANDSThulio Nascimento and John Gailey

Page 2: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

WETLAND• A wetland is a land area that is saturated with

water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem.

Page 3: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

IMPORTANCES OF WETLANDS High number of animals and plants species. Are very important to ecosystems for a variety of reasons including feeding

downstream waters, trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, removing pollution and providing fish and wildlife habitat.

Agriculture (with crop fields on river floodplain soils and rice fields as major examples).

Recreation (boating, fishing, swimming, bird watching, and hunting).

Page 4: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

PEAT

Peat (turf) is an buildup of partially decayed plants or organic matter that is unique to natural areas called peat lands or mires.

The peat land ecosystem is the most efficient carbon sink on the planet.

Page 5: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEAT AND COAL Carbon may remain locked away in dead plant matter

(peat) for many years in a bog/wetland area. Sometimes these deposits have layers of sediment that

settle, and as more layers of sediment are piled on top, the slowly decaying organic matter can end up trapped between layers of rock. The result is the formation of a carbon-containing fossil fuel, coal.

Coal is very important economically as the coal industry contributes an estimated $5.2 billion to Canada’s GDP

Page 6: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

IMPORTANCE OF PEAT

Peat is important for farmers and gardeners, who mix it into soil to improve its structure and to increase acidity.

It contains substances that are beneficial for plants, and for the reproductive health of fish.

It can even prevent algae growth and kill microorganisms that would otherwise harm an ecosystem.

Peat also serves as a filter for septic tanks and may be used as a water purifier.

Peat is widely used in balneotherapy (the use of bathing to treat disease).  It was useful as an alternative to firewood for cooking and heating. 

Page 7: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

DESERTIFICATION

The process of fertile land transforming into desert typically as a result of deforestation, drought, or improper/inappropriate agriculture.

Page 8: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

CAUSES Deflation (the loss of stabilizing vegetation, and of top

soil) Erosion – the washing away of good soil during flooding Soil-salinity-rise – salt content in soil increasing (often

due to irrigation of soil) Agriculture Farming Groundwater pumping/depletion

Page 9: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

QUESTIONS

Page 10: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

TRUE OR FALSE

Humans have an impact on Wetlands. T or F

Wetlands are important for agriculture. T or F

Page 11: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

MULTIPLE CHOICE1)Peat is important to humans because… a) We need vitamins that are found in Peat b) It’s used to make Coal c) It’s used to feed animals

2) What are Natural Impacts to Wetlands?a) They are physical, chemical, and biological impacts.b) They are erosions.c) They are Sea-Level rises or storm and flood events.

Page 12: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

SHORT ANSWER1) What are wetlands?2) What is desertification?3) What are the causes of desertification?

Page 13: WETLANDS Thulio Nascimento and John Gailey. WETLAND A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, so that it

LONG ANSWER

1) How is Coal formed?

2) Why are wetlands important?