WETLAND, RIVER AND LAKE

What makes Wetlands, Rivers and Lakes unique habitats?

Wetlands provide a safe and lush environment for many different species of fish, birds, and insects. Like animals, their are number of plant communities that will only survive in the unique environmental conditions of a wetland. In the continental U.S. wetlands account for only 5 percent of the total land area but over 30 percent of the nation's vascular flora occur in wetlands.

Wetlands are dominated by vascular plants that have adapted to saturated soil. Wetlands are the most productive natural ecosystems because of the proximity of water and soil. Due to their productivity, wetlands are often converted into dry land with dykes and drains and used for agricultural purposes. Their closeness to lakes and rivers means that they are often developed for human settlement. Plants (called hydrophytes or just wetland plants) specifically adapted to the reducing conditions presented by such soils can survive in wetlands, whereas species intolerant of the absence of soil oxygen (called "upland" plants) cannot survive. Adaptations to low soil oxygen characterize many wetland species.

Lake ecosystems can be divided into zones: pelagic (open offshore waters); profundal; littoral (nearshore shallow waters); and riparian (the area of land bordering a body of water). Two important subclasses of lakes are ponds, which typically are small lakes that intergrade with wetlands, and water reservoirs. Many lakes, or bays within them, gradually become enriched by nutrients and fill in with organic sediments, a process called eutrophication. Eutrophication is accelerated by human activity within the water catchment area of the lake.

The major zones in river ecosystems are determined by the river bed's gradient or by the velocity of the current. Faster moving turbulent water typically contains greater concentrations of dissolved oxygen, which supports greater biodiversity than the slow moving water of pools. These distinctions forms the basis for the division of rivers into upland and lowland rivers. The food base of streams within riparian forests is mostly derived from the trees, but wider streams and those that lack a canopy derive the majority of their food base from algae. Anadromous fish are also an important source of nutrients. Environmental threats to rivers include loss of water, dams, chemical pollution and introduced species.

What kind of animals can be found there?

Wetland and river animals are dependent on the ever-flowing ecosystem. Animals like the Alligator, Hippopotamus and Stork can be found here. Windaroo's Wetland and its animals are exciting sights to behold.

Would you like to know more about the Wetland, River and Lakes inhabitants?

Alligator   Amphibian   Bald_Eagle   Bat   Bee   Beetle   Boa   Butterfly   Caecilian   Cassowary   Clouded_Leopard   Crane   Crocodile   Flamingo   Frog   Gharial   Guenon   Hippopotamus   Hummingbird   Ibis   Iguana   Jacana   Jaguar   Kingfisher   Kingsnake   Lizard   Lorikeet   Lory   Macaw   Mangabey   Mountain_Lion   Newt   Nile_Lechwe   Otter   Owl   Pelican   Python   Rattlesnake   Rhinoceros   Salamander   Slender-Snouted_Crocodile   Small_Cat   Snake   Spider   Spiral-horned_Antelope   Stork   Tapir   Toad   Tortoise   Turtle   Wild_Cattle   Wild_Swine