Wet Lands
List major Ideas AND Key Points.
- Wetlands are important to the life cycle of many plants and animals and because ms ogo is cool
- Wetlands also been considered "nature's kidneys" for their ability to reduce wave impacts, convey floodwater, trap sediment, and reduce pollution
- The U.S. has lost over nine million acres of wetlands, this is equal to the state of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. It is estimated that only 6% of the world's land are wetland
- Policies for protecting wetlands are complicated due to the ever changing nature of the wetlands
- All definitions of wetland share the following fact that water is shallow, hydrophytes which are plants that have adapted to flood and hydric soil that changes colors and odors separating them upland soil
- Wetlands can be found in various topographical settings
- Wetland water levels can rise or fall in accordance with tides, precipitation, and runoff
- Some wetlands last very long times due to benefits from natural events considered economically devastating to humans. Raging fires burn excess organic matter, Hurricanes scour sediments and other organic matter, Droughts temporarily stops hydrophytic vegetation and allow oxidation
- Some wetlands have endured and survived many of those events
- Wetlands have also been misunderstood. For example, flooding along Mississippi has been especially bad since many wetlands were destroyed leaving the ecosystem to no longer absorb flood water
- Because wetlands are constantly changing, animals and plants have changed and adapted to them
- Water level changes in wetlands can provide extra support to land animals, partially aquatic to fully aquatic plants and animals
- These temporary changes can affect a wide variety of birds including those who are short-legged
- Wetland water levels are also influenced by the quantity and quality of water in the immediate source nearby
- If a wetland is connected to another water source, they can serve as reproductive and feeding grounds. The incoming water also brings in nutrients that can help make the ecosystem more productive
- Man-made structures and areas can reduce flood storage, habitats and water purification
- Barriers which prevent wetlands with beneficial room to move can cause the temporary or permanent disappearance of wetlands
- Increased nutrients, pesticides, and sediments can overload a wetland's ability to maintain them and can be beyond the wetland's assimilation ability
- There are ecosystems currently that have an increased sediment influx due to the clearing of land, however there is no mechanism to flush the increased out
- A decreased of sediments in wetlands have also lead to wetland loss
- There have been multiple conflicts between developers and wetland conservatives. The conflict is about management of developments while still retaining wetlands
Summarize authors main points !
In this article the author is talking about wetlands. Wetlands are very beneficial to us because it stops floods from happening. Humans are destroying wetlands to use it to build homes and use it for human development ( living or making land to technology ). There are plenty of animals who use wetlands for their home and shelter. Flooding along the Mississippi has gotten worse due to less wetlands. Policies for protecting wetlands are still debated as politicians and scientists fail to reach an agreement for what classifies as a wetland.
What is your Opinion?
I think we need to stop being so selfish. Why are there so many people out there who destroy something so natural just for their own wealth. Im pretty sure they know that animals live there. They are just being so selfish. They're destroying hundreds of animals homes and shelters probably to build like a rite aid or something. I think the government need to step up there game and protect these areas.