Wetlands

Question 1

Management considerations for Kootenays

Answer 1

manage windthrow hazard consistent with management specifics

retain wildlife trees

Question 2

Name the five wetland classes

Answer 2

1. Bogs
2. Fens
3. Marshes
4. Swamps
5. Shallow waters

Question 3

2 transitional wetland types

Answer 3

saline meadows

shrub-carrs

Question 4

Saline Meadow

Answer 4

• semi-arid climate
• slightly-highly saline soils
• graminoids/forbs that are flood/salt tolerant
• water evaporates/salts accummulate

(Gs)

Question 5

define halophyte

Answer 5

plant adapted to growing in saline conditions

Question 6

Shrub Carr

SNR, SMR

Answer 6

• (Sc)
• Frost prone depressions
• medium-fine textured soils
• low shrubs, grasses, forbs
• border wetlands
• strongly mounded soil surface is typical
• cold, dry climates

Poor-Med SNR
Moist-V.moist SMR

Question 7

Shallow water

Answer 7

permanent deep flooding (.5-2m)

aquatic species

<10% cover veg

non-soils

(Wa)

Question 8

Swamp

Answer 8

mineral soils, well humified peat

temp shallow flooding (0.1-1.0m)

significant water flow

tall shrub/forested

confiers, willows, alders, forbs, grasses, leafy mosses

surface standing water

lots of nutrients

SNR: poor-v.rich/SMR:v.moist-wet/Slightly acidic/Mobile

(ws)

Question 9

Marshes

Answer 9

shallowly flooded mineral wetland (0.1-2 m)

large emergent sedge, grass, forb, horsetail

fluctuating watertable

high nutrients (eutrophic - hyper eutrophic)

circum-neutral pH

EDATOPIC: mobile-v.dynamic/netural-alkaline pH/SMR:wet/SNR:rich-hyper

(wm)

Question 10

Fen

Answer 10

Wf

groundwater fed

pH >5.0

>40 cm fibric/mesic peat

high mineral content

non-ericaceous shrubs, sedges, grasses, reeds, brown mosses

develop in basins, floodplains

deciduous shrubs

SMR: wet/slightly acidic-alkaline/Stagnant-sluggish watertable/poor-v.rich SNR

Question 11

Bog

Answer 11

Wb

ericaceous shrubs

nutrient poor

sphagnum species

conifer treed/low shrub

pH <5.5

>40 cm fibric/mesic peat

SNR: v.poor-med/SMR:vmoist-wet/V.Acidic-mod acidic/stagnant-sluggish waters

Question 12

define ombrotrophic

Answer 12

depends on atmospheric moisture

Question 13

definition of wetland

Answer 13

“areas where soils are water saturated for a sufficient length of time such that excess water and resulting low soil oxygen levels are principle determinants of vegetation and soil development”

excess H20 = hydrophytes

vegetation and hydric soil

anaerobic soil

Question 14

wetland complex

Answer 14

association of 2 or more wetland class types

Question 15

threats to wetlands

Answer 15

Beavers!

climate

fire

recreation

agriculture

development

Question 16

characteristics of a wetland:

Answer 16

created by: stable high watertables, dynamic watertables, regional climate

support hydrophytes

peaty organic horizons >40 cm thick

non-sandy soils with blue grey gleying within 30 cm of surface

mottled sandy soils(hydric soil conditions)

rotten egg smell and hydrophytes

<15% tree cover

<2m water depth

wetter than adjacent upland areas

Question 17

Ecological importance of wetlands

Answer 17

keystone

nursery for small fish, amphibians, water fowl

filter contaminants, take out sediments and pollutants(water lillies)

carbon sinks

great at controlling h20 levels and availability (EROSION)

huge water storage availability, reduce flood rish