SWAMPS
Swamps are simply flooded forest
or woodland. Swamps forested or shrub-dominated wetlands usually associated
with low lying periodically or permanently flooded areas around streams and
rivers. They are wetland ecosystem characterized by mineral soils with poor
drainage and by plant life dominated by trees.
Or swamp can be defined as an
area of land, usually fairly large, that is always wet and is overgrown with
various shrubs and trees. They are dominated by trees or shrubs and occur in
variety of flooding conditions were standing water can be present permanently
or temporally.
Water chemistry varies deeply depending on water source. They can contain fresh water or
salt water as well as mineralized water or non-mineralized water.
Soil swamps are characterized with wet soils and the soil can be poor or rich
in nutrients and varies in mineral and organic content.
Water source; swamps are primarily fed by surface water inputs which can be salt water
or fresh water from floodplains.
Swamps are classified into;
i.
Forested swamps; found in flood plains which receive floodwater from nearby rivers and
streams. Example of trees found in these swamps includes swamp white oak, red
maple, water tupelo and bald cypress.
ii.
Shrub swamps; are similar to forested swamps excepts that shrubby species like
buttonbush and swamp rose dominate.
iii. Mangrove swamps; are coastal wetlands characterized by salt tolerant trees, shrubs and other plants growing in brackish to saline tidal waters.
MARSHES
Are periodically or continually
flooded wetlands characterized by non-wood emergent plants.i.e. Flooded
grassland. Or marsh is a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by poorly
drained mineral soils and by plant life dominated by grasses. Or marshes are
periodically saturated, flooded or ponded with water areas and characterized by
herbaceous (non woody) vegetation adapted to wet soil condition.
They are common at the mouths of
rivers, especially where extensive deltas have been built.
Water chemistry; varies from salt water to fresh water depending on water sources. i.e.
incoming tidal waves or surface runoff.
Soil type; coarser soils such as sand are found in areas subjected to waves or
flowing water while in more protected areas silt and clay together with dead
plants accumulates to form organic soil.
Vegetation type; grasses.
Marshes can be classified into;
i.
Tidal/ coastal marshes; occur along the coastlines and are influenced by tides and often by
freshwater from runoff, rivers, or ground water. Salt marshes are the most
prevalent type of tidal marshes and are characterized by salt tolerant plants
such as salt grass, smooth cord grass and glasswort.
ii.
Non-tidal/ inland marshes; dominated by grass plants and frequently occur in poorly drained
depression, floodplains, and shallow water areas along the edges of lakes and
rivers.
iii.
Fresh water marshes; characterized by periodic or permanent shallow water, little or no peat
deposition and mineral soils. They are typically deriving most of their water
from surface waters including floodwater and runoff but do receive ground water
inputs.
MIRES (bog & fen)
Is a collective name for Bogs and
Fen. Are wetlands that develop over peat, the partly decomposed remains
of plants. Unlike swamps and marshes where the soils developed are composed of
minerals in peat soils are largely composed of organic maters.
Bogs are freshwater wetlands characterized by spongy peat deposits, a growth of
evergreen trees and shrubs, and a floor covered by a thick carpet of sphagnum
moss. Or is a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by wet, spongy, poorly
drained peaty soil, dominated by the growth of bog mosses, sphagnum and heaths,
particularly chamaedaphne. Bogs are usually acid areas, frequently
surrounding a body of open water. Bogs receive water exclusively from rainfall.
Fen- a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by peaty soil, dominated by
grass like plants, grasses, sedges and reeds. Fens are alkaline rather than
acid receiving water mostly from surface and groundwater sources.
IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS
i.
Provide habitat for variety
species of animals and insects.eg fishes, amphibians and reptile.
ii.
Source of food and water for
human and other animals.
iii.
Swamp trees provide timber for
building activities.
iv.
Provide areas for scientific
studies about nature and researches.
v.
Provides many opportunities for
recreational activities such as bird-watching, hunting, fishing.
vi.
Some wetlands are of
archeological interest because native settlements were located near them. E.g.
Peat land in Denmark and England have yield human fossils remains from about
2000 years ago well preserved by acidic and anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions.
FUNCTIONS OF WETLAND
i.
Inland wetlands help in control
floods by storing water and slowly releasing it to downstream areas after the
flood peak.
ii.
Wetlands reduces wave action and
slow down the flow of water , lessening erosion and causing sediments to settle
out of water.
iii.
Helps to improve water quality as
does the removal of nutrients and contaminants from the water by growing
wetland plants and by chemical processes in wetland sediments.
iv.
They serve as the sites where
surface water can seep into the ground and replenish the groundwater.
v.
Wetlands regulate temperature at
local level.
LIMITATIONS OF WETLANDS
·
Reduce area for settlement
·
Some wetland provides habitat for
some insects and animals which are dangerous to human.
·
Wetlands also act as barrier to
transportation, limits road construction.
·
When damaged man made wetlands
can cause flooding. E.g. when dams wall collapses.
·
Limits areas for production.
- GROUND WATER || WATER MASSES || FORMATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF LAKES: PART THREE
- GROUND WATER || WATER MASSES || SIGNIFICANCE OF LAKES. PART FOUR
- GROUND WATER || WATER MASSES || IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS PART FIVE
- GROUND WATER || WATER MASSES || CORAL COASTS PART SIX
Post a Comment