Inquiry:Wetlands

B-1.1: Generate Hypothesis based on credible, accurate, and relevant sources of scientific information.

B-1.6: Evaluate the results of a controlled scientific investigation in terms of whether they refute or verify the hypothesis.

B-1.9: Use appropriate safety procedures when conducting investigations.

PRE-MacModS (See Hand-out) There are two different factories that are both near

a river: The first one has a wetland in between the factory and the river. The second one does not have a wetland near it.

1. Which river do you think will be more contaminated? A) The river located next to the wetland and factoryB) The river located next to the factoryC) They will be the same2. Explain your answer with a diagram. If possible use the

word filter.

“Runoff Race”As I am shaking the jar, think about this: What are some reasons why muddy water

can be harmful to wildlife? Do you think more sediments settle to the

bottom if the water is moving fast or slow?

“Runoff Race” Flowing water carries sediments of many different

sizes. When water is flowing fast, the sediments can be

carried in suspension with the water. When the water slows down, larger particles can

settle out. Runoff is the movement of land water to the oceans,

chiefly in the form of rivers, lakes, and streams. (http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/hyd/run.rxml)

What does this have to do with wetlands?

-Water enters through a stream, goes through the wetland, and then finally into a lake or larger body of water.

-Wetlands and their plants can slow the flow of water by just simply being in the way.

-The Astroturf is our “healthy wetland” with plants and trees in it and the black surface is a wetland that has been filled in and paved.

-Watch what happens……

“Runoff Race” SO….

1. Which “wetland” produced the fastest water flow?

2. In which wetland would more sediments settle out?

3. Which one would have cleaner water flowing from it?

OH..What is a wetland you ask? “Wetlands are areas that are covered by water or have

waterlogged soils for long periods during the growing season. Plants growing in wetlands are capable of living in saturated soil conditions for at least part of the growing season. Wetlands such as swamps and marshes are often obvious, but some wetlands are not easily recognized, often because they are dry during part of the year or "they just don't look very wet" from the roadside.”

There are 4 major classes of wetlands:Marshes, Swamps,Bogs, and Fens.

http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/PA/regulatory/Wetland.htm

Marshes…Marshes are periodically saturated,

flooded, or ponded with water and characterized by herbaceous (non-woody) vegetation adapted to wet soil conditions. Marshes are further characterized

as tidal marshes and non-tidal marshes.1. Tidal (Coastal) Marshes-Influenced by tides and

have salt-tolerant plants. (glasswort and cord grass) Salt marshes are an example.

2. Non-Tidal (Inland) Marshes-Occur in poorly drained depressions, floodplains, and shallow areas along lakes and rivers. The Florida Everglades are

an example.http://www.epa.gov/wetlands/pdf/types_pr.pdf

Marshes…

Salt Marsh

Florida Everglades inland marsh

Swamps…SWAMPS are fed primarily by surface water

inputs and are dominated by trees andshrubs. Swamps occur in either freshwater or

saltwater floodplains. They are characterized by very wet soils during the growing season and standing water

during certain times of the year1. Forested swamps-Receive floodwater from nearby

rivers and streams. Trees include bald cypress, water tupelo, white oak, and red maple.

2. Shrub swamps-Similar to forested accept buttonbush and swamp rose dominate.

3. Mangrove swamps-Coastal wetlands characterized by salt-tolerant trees and plants.

http://www.epa.gov/wetlands/pdf/types_pr.pdf

Swamps…

Forested Swamp

Mangrove Swamp

Bogs…BOGS are freshwater wetlands characterized

by spongy peat deposits, a growth of evergreentrees and shrubs, and a floor covered by a

thick carpet of sphagnum moss. These systems,whose only water source is rainwater, are

usually found in glaciated areas of the northernUnited States. One type of bog, called a

pocosin, is found only in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

http://www.epa.gov/wetlands/pdf/types_pr.pdf

Bogs…

Pocosin

Fens…FENS are ground

water-fed peat formingWetlands covered by grasses,sedges, reeds,

and wildflowers. Willow and birch are alsocommon. Fens, like bogs, tend to occur in

glaciated areas of the northern United States.http://www.epa.gov/wetlands/pdf/types_pr.pdf

Fens…

Did you know that… There are approximately 4.5 million acres of

wetlands in South Carolina. Wetlands cover about 23% of South Carolina’s

total land surface. South Carolina wetlands constitute about 12% of

the total amount of wetlands in the United States. South Carolina has lost abut 27% of it’s wetlands

since the middle 1700’s. (SCDHEC, 2009)

Investigative Question: What function of a wetland contributes to

the productivity of this ecosystem ?Hypothesis: If wetlands are one of the most productive

ecosystems on earth, then ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________..

Materials: Please check that you have the following materials

and raise your hand if you are missing something:1. Clear plastic bottle2. ½ cup dirt3. 2 cups of sand4. 2 cups of large gravel5. 1 cup of small gravel6. 1 cup of water7. Spoon8. Plastic cup

Modeling a wetland Lab Procedures:

Leave the cap on the bottle. Turn the bottle upside down so that the closed cap is facing down and add

2 cups of gravel in it. Now, add 1 cup of smaller gravel on top of the larger gravel. Pour the sand in. ( Notice it will fill the gaps in the gravel) Take your cup of water and mix in ½ cup of dirt. In your science journal make a prediction about what you think the water

will look like after it seeps through and explain why. Slowly pour your dirt/water mixture in. Place the bottle over your plastic cup and slowly remove the cap from the

bottle. Watch as the water seeps in through the sand and gravel. In your science journals, generate a hypothesis about what part of a

wetland the filter is representing and draw a model that demonstrates this. Compare what the water looked like before it passed through the filter

and what it looked like after it passed through the filter.

Let’s Talk… What are your ideas about this filter? How is this filter representative of a

wetland? What component is the filter representing? What function?

How Do Wetlands Help? “Harmful substances are often introduced into water bodies like

streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Factories may dump toxic chemicals, or rainwater may carry harmful pesticides or animal waste from farms. Such harmful substances can have negative impacts on the wildlife that live in these water bodies. These substances may also enter the groundwater, which is where people get their water to drink!”

“Wetlands reduce the amount of these harmful substances that enter a stream, river, pond, or lake by acting like a strainer that filters out the bad stuff. When these substances enter a wetland, before reaching the water body, wetland plants will take many of the harmful substances into their roots and change the harmful substances into less harmful ones before they are released to the water body. Harmful substances may also be buried in wetland soil, where bacteria and other microorganisms break the substances down so they are no longer harmful.”

http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module12/Chemicalfunctionsofwetlands.htm

How Does a wetland work

In your science journals:I refute/Verify(pick one) my hypothesis that

__________________________ because _________________________________.

“Our Wonderful Wetlands”Streamline Video

POST-MacModS( See Hand-Out) There are 3 acres of land located in North Myrtle

Beach, SC. On that land, there is a large wetland that directly borders the ocean. A developer came along and offered the land owner 1.5 million dollars for the land- SOLD! The developer decided to build a strip mall there.

1. What do you think will be the effect on the water quality in the ocean near the new strip mall?

2. Draw a diagram that depicts your explanation.

References http://beachwoodhistoricalalliance.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/wetlands-diagram.jpg http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module12/Chemicalfunctionsofwetlands.htm http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/PA/regulatory/Wetland.htm http://www.epa.gov/wetlands/pdf/types_pr.pdf http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/alabama/images/salt_marsh.

jpg http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/e/ev/everglades_saw

grass_prairie_moni3.jpg

http://www.fws.gov/r5mnwr/lotw/tupcypress2.jpg http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Mexico/mangrove-swamp.jpg http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/collections/cede/cedefire12.jpg http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/img_coll/insects/

misa_fen2005MIDNRChrisHoving.jpg http://www2.scholastic.com/content/images/articles/m/msb_wetlandspg.gif