Station 1: Wetlands Habitat

Class discussion:

What is a wetland?

Wetlands are 'lands' that are 'wet.' Wetlands have special soils and plants that love water. Wetlands soils are called hydric soils because they are flooded for long periods of time. Hydric Soils create environments that favor hydrophytic plants, such as the vegetation seen here. Wetlands soils can also filter pollutants from the water.

How do wetlands or swamps help our environment?

Wetlands help control flooding by soaking up excess stormwater, like a sponge for the environment. Wetlands help maintain good water quality in rivers and streams, and provide a home for a large variety of plants and animals.

What is unique about wetlands plants?

Wetlands plants have many adaptations that enable them to survive in the conditions that are characteristic of a wetlands.

What are wetland conditions that may influence plant life?

• Fluctuations in water level
• Permanent saturation with water (therefore, decreased access to Oxygen)

Class Activity: Survival of the Water Plants

Materials: flashcards of wetlands plant adaptations (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1d6O3RLunLCaMA6oRwCQWj3ITlO8L_o0HrGECRcj-vvE/edit#slide=id.g2719f975aa_0_1)

• Tell students that they will be 'matching' definitions of wetland plant definitions and adaptations to pictures showing the feature
• Hand out one card (either a definition or a picture) to each student and allow time for students to compare cards and create matches
• After each pair has been matched, ask students to discuss and share ideas on how the adaptation/feature on their card could help hydrophytic plants survive in wetlands
• Allow students to share ideas, and use information below to fill in pieces:
  • Emergent plants extend out of the water to allow plants to access more sunlight and oxygen
  • Floating plants have leaves, flowers, and fruit that float on the water to gain access to sunlight
  • Submergent plants are adapted to not need as much sunlight or oxygen as other plants
  • Aerenchyma are special air or pore spaces in the roots or stems of plants that allow oxygen to enter the plant and be transported within the plant
  • Hollowed stems also allow the transport of oxygen to the roots of plants
  • Shallow root systems, swollen trunks, or roots that grow above the ground to avoid oxygen depletion