What is a Wetland?
Wetlands are characterized by:
• Presence of lots of water – water at surface for some part of year.
• Wet soils
• Water-loving plants (sedges, willow, cattails)

Types of Wetlands
· Marsh - rushes, sedges, grasses, and other plants growing in and around the water.

· Swamp - shrubs and trees.
· Bog (acidic) – receives only precipitation, characterized by sphagnum moss and floating mat of vegetation, as well as, bog rosemary, bog laurel, labrador tea, and black spruce.

· Fen (less acidic and more alkaline) – receives ground and surface water inflows, characterized by sedges, woody shrubs, and possibly floating mat of vegetation.

· Vernal pond depression in the forest that fills with water from spring runoff. Will eventually dry up in summer)

Wetland Benefits & Functions
· Act like giant sponges to soak up water, reduce floods, and recharge groundwater.
· Provide resting place for migrating birds.
· Filter out pollutants, trap sediments, and improve water quality.
· Provide water, food, protective cover and breeding areas for wildlife.
· Reduce soil erosion by slowing runoff from storms and spring runoff.
· Provide nursery areas and protection for fish.
· Supply agricultural products for people: cranberries, peat, blueberries
· Provide recreational, educational, and scientific study opportunities.

Wetland Functions Activity (Wetland Metaphors in WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands , p. 85)

Wetlands help wildlife and people in lots of different ways. Play Put different objects listed below into a bag. Explain what a metaphor is. Hand out objects one at a time to groups of 2-3 students, and ask them to explain how each object represents what a wetland is or does.

Sponge = soaks up water, helps prevent floods, adds to groundwater.

Pillow = resting place for migrating birds. Wetlands are like MOTELS for migrating birds.

Egg beater = mixes nutrients and oxygen into the water.
Strainer = strains out dirt; keeps water clean.
Coffee filter = filters out pollution; keeps water clean.
Antacid = takes away (neutralizes) effect of acid rain.
Wild rice or cereal = provides food for wildlife and people. Wetlands are like RESTAURANTS
for wildlife.

Soap = helps clean the environment.
Baby bottle = wetlands are NURSERIES for raising baby insects (larva) and baby animals
because there are lots of plants for hiding/shelter, food, and water nearby for drinking.

Wetlands Provide Habitat for Many Plants & Wildlife
List the four parts of habitat?
• food • water • • shelter • space
These must be in the proper amounts and arrangement for each type of plant or animal, i. e. . too much water v. too little water. Different animals have different needs for space, i. e. bear v. ant.

Many different kinds of plants and animals live in a wetland habitat:
frogs turtles birds beaver alder cattails
tadpoles fish insects moose willow sandhill crane
sedge water lily algae duck weed heron Canadian geese
(encourage students to research additional plants and animals that live in wetlands)

Food Chains in Wetlands

Describe a food chain for a wetland:

phytoplankton — zooplankton — insect larva — frog — heron/snake

Wetland Sampling Activity

Materials/Equipment Needed:
Shovel or soil auger
Meter stick
Plant ID books
Ziploc bags for collecting plants
Data forms

Procedure
Organize students into groups to:
· Describe soil.
· Measure depth to groundwater.
· Identify plants
· Determine wetland type

Assessment: need to add

Summary
Rephrase objectives as questions.

Field Trip Rules:
1. This pond is home to lots of animals.
Treat the pond the way you’d want a stranger to treat your special place. Don’t walk in it! It makes the water all murky— hard for us to see critters and hard for them to see their food.

2. This pond is a nursery for young animals.
Be careful with the animals that you collect so you don’t injure them.
• Don’t handle them with your hands.
• Put all animals back in the water when you are through.

3. These animals need water.
All collected animals must be placed in a container with water ASAP.

4. Be careful of equipment.
Rinse all nets and containers when you’re through. Anyone not being safe and careful with equipment will lose it.