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What is a Wetland?. Any place that is regularly flooded with fresh, brackish, or salty water. Water Not always wet Water levels change Permanent, seasonal, or temporary. 25ft. Completely dry. Ephemeral pond. Flooded seasonally. Flooded by heavy rains or tides. Shallow water
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What is a Wetland? Any place that is regularly flooded with fresh, brackish, or salty water
Water • Not always wet • Water levels change • Permanent, seasonal, or temporary
25ft Completely dry Ephemeral pond
Shallow water • Maximum depth (2 to 6 metres) • Light penetrates • Highly productive • Often little or no water movement • Ramsar definition includes rivers, lakes, and coral reefs
Wetlands have hydric soils: • Water fills the air space • Oxygen-poor (anaerobic or anoxic) • Gray in colour • Unique aroma (“swamp gas”) • Soft and unstable
Aerenchyma Cross section of the stem of an aquatic plant
Fresh • Brackish • Salty • “Super-salty” (hypersaline)
Wetlands have: • Water for at least part of the year • Water-logged (hydric) soils • Specially-adapted plants (hydrophytes)