Wetlands are an essential part of natures balance. The most obvious service a wetland provides is to the many animals that inhabit them. One fourth of the plants,
two thirds of the of the birds, one half of the fish, and three fourths of the amphibians living in wetlands are threatened or endangered.
The diversity of the ecosystem inside the wetland is part of what makes it such a good home. Fish requiring different conditions for feeding, resting, spawning, and protection can find them all in a wetland. The number of different ceratures that live in wetlands is incredible. Reptiles include turtles, snakes, and aligators. Frogs, salamanders, and toads are examples of amphibious creatures living in a wetland for atleast part of their life cycle.
Mammals such as nutria, muskrats, mink, racoons, and beavers as well as birds and insects all coexist in wetlands. Human beings also greatly benefit from wetlands. Wetlands are an essential form of protection from floods. Floodwater passing through a wetland slows down in the thick brush. Much of this water bonds with standing water of the wetland, while
the rest is slowly released after the flood has passed. Wetlands protect our coasts from erosion. This is neccessary for obvious reasons. Many homes and much of the U.S. oil infrastructure are located on coastal grounds. Many wetlands serve as a connection with our past. The acidic and anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions of the soil preserve remains of past cultures that resided near by, such as Native Americans. Other examples of ways wetlands benefit humans include recreation (such as camping and birdwatching) and the improvement of water quality. When water passes through a wetland, much of the sediment is deposited of absorbed by the vegetation.
This cleans the water and replenishes the wetland. |