have you been swamped with stress? unwind with us in the wetlands! brought to you by traveltime...
TRANSCRIPT
Have you been SWAMPED with stress?
Unwind with us in the Wetlands!
Brought to you by Traveltime ToursJane Peterson, Sarah Bjarnason, and Kurt Schafer
Wetland Biomes are everywhere! Pick a region to visit!
Wetlands are spread across the entire world, they aren’t centralized to one specific region of the world!
Special features of the Wetlands!
Wet lands are frequently or continually inundated with water, characterized by soft-
stemmed vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditions. Nutrients are plentiful and the pH is usually
neutral leading to an abundance of plant and animal life!
Wondering what clothing to pack?
Climate varies depending on the Wetlands location!• Tropical Wetlands: temperatures of up to 122 F (50 C)• Polar Wetlands: temperatures drop to as low as -58 F (-50 C) • Temperate Wetlands: average around 51 F (11 C) in
temperaturesWetlands vary in rainfall based on their location
What time of year should you visit?
Tropical Wetlands: September – February Temperate Wetlands: June – Mid-AugustPolar Wetlands: July – August
Unique Features of Wetlands
Wetlands are categorized into 4 types: • Swamps (forested) • Marshes (composed of herbaceous vegetation) • Bogs (a mire [area that has accumulated a lot of
peat] with acidic waters) • Fens (similar to bogs, but have a more alkaline water
concentration)
Do you know what is threatening Wetlands?
Major threats to wetlands consist of:• river regulation and water diversion• development and catchment
disturbance• introduction of weeds and pest animals• climate change
Flora
Four types of Plants Exist in Wetlands:• Submerged Water Plants (found completely
underwater)• Floating Water Plants (may take up a large surface
area in a wetland system)• Emergent Water Plants (seen above the surface
though the roots are completely submerged)• Surrounding Trees and Shrubs (found in swamps)
FaunaRelies on the location of the wetland
Wetlands across the world provide homes:• Fish• Amphibians• Reptiles• Mammals• Insects/invertebrates
Fauna
Great Blue Heron
Northwestern Salamander
Virginia Opossum
Capybara
Blue-and-Yellow Macaw
Piranha
Plant Adaptations: Peat Moss
They have adapted to the Wetlands by being capable of
growing in very acidic conditions where there is no groundwater flow, and where the only source of nutrients comes from rainfall.
Their unique structure allows them to hold 15 times as much
water as the weight of the plant. Because of its ability to hold water, Peat moss can sustain itself during long dry periods.
Animal Adaptations: The Pond Skater
Insects that have specialized, paddle like legs that enable
the insect to "skate" over the
surface of the water, riding on the surface tension that
lies between the water and the air.
Tourism in the Wetlands
If you choose to visit the Pantanal Wetlands in Brazil you must stop at Rio da Prata where you will be able to snorkel and have a first hand encounter with the amazing wildlife of the wetlands! It has been awarded first place as “The Best Attraction” by a highly praised travel guide.
Take a boat tour! The tour will allow you to have an amazing view of the plant and animal life while keeping a comfortable and safe distance from the wildlife!
For extra information please visit the following sites:
• http://oregonexplorer.info/wetlands/PlantsandAnimals/WetlandWildlife
• http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/ • http://digitalsportsman.com/wetlands/plant.htm • http://oregonexplorer.info/wetlands/PlantsandAnimals• http://digitalsportsman.com/wetlands/anim.htm