What is a Wetland?What is a Wetland?

Any place that is regularly flooded Any place that is regularly flooded with fresh, brackish, or salty waterwith fresh, brackish, or salty water

WaterWater

• Not always wetNot always wet

•Water levels changeWater levels change

• Permanent, seasonal, or temporaryPermanent, seasonal, or temporary

Completely dryCompletely dry

25ft

Ephemeral pondEphemeral pond

Flooded seasonallyFlooded seasonally

Flooded by heavy rains or tidesFlooded by heavy rains or tides

Shallow waterShallow water

• Maximum depth (2 to 6 metres)Maximum depth (2 to 6 metres)

• Light penetratesLight penetrates

• Highly productiveHighly productive

• Often little or no water movementOften little or no water movement

• Ramsar definition includes rivers, lakes, and coral reefsRamsar definition includes rivers, lakes, and coral reefs

Wetlands have hydric soils:Wetlands have hydric soils:

• Water fills the air spaceWater fills the air space

• Oxygen-poor (anaerobic or anoxic)Oxygen-poor (anaerobic or anoxic)

• Gray in colourGray in colour

• Unique aroma (“swamp gas”)Unique aroma (“swamp gas”)

• Soft and unstableSoft and unstable

““Water-loving” plants (hydrophytes)Water-loving” plants (hydrophytes)

AerenchymaAerenchyma

Cross section of the stem of an aquatic plantCross section of the stem of an aquatic plant

• FreshFresh

• BrackishBrackish

• SaltySalty

• ““Super-salty” (hypersaline)Super-salty” (hypersaline)

HydrologyHydrology

Wetlands have:Wetlands have:

1)1) Water for at least part of the yearWater for at least part of the year

2)2) Water-logged (hydric) soilsWater-logged (hydric) soils

3)3) Specially-adapted plants (hydrophytes)Specially-adapted plants (hydrophytes)