Sample Responses
Student
Worksheet
Based on what you have
read, answer the following questions.
List the 3 conditions that determine if an area is considered a wetland.
1. Water
2. Soil
3. Plants
Name and
describe the four types of wetlands found in Louisiana.
1. Bogs - soggy soil,
acidic soil low in nutrients ( nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium)
Carniverous plants (pitcher plants), wildflowers,grasses, rushes,
sedges, mosses, and pine trees.
Very few animals live in the bog. Insects, dragonflies,
butterflies, crawfish, frogs, salamanders, eels, turtles, and
snakes are found. Birds include quail, wild turkeys, barred owls,
hawks, and woodpeckers. Mammals include deer,rice rats, raccoon,
oppossum, rabbits, and shrew.
Threats - modern forest management, over grazing,foot traffic,
motor vehicles, herbicides, and over collecting.
Importance- filter and purify water. Support more state rare
species than any other natural community.
2. Marsh- areas dominated bu grasses, sedges, and rushes in
patches of open shallow water. Types include fresh, brackish,
intermediate, and salt.
Freshwater marsh- farthest inland. Rainfall, runoff and seasonal
flooding supply the water. Diverse plants- up to 93 species.
Broad range of animals- frogs, turtles, ducks, alligators,
muskcrats, mink, otters, egrets, herons, and hawks.
Intermediate marsh- found where slightly salty water reaches
fresh water. Characterized by diversity of species. Plants
include three corner grass, arrowhead, cordgrass, wiregrass and
hyssops. Waterfowl, crabs, shrimp, and menhaden provide valuable
fishery resources.
Brackish Marsh- found between salt and intermediate marsh. Area
affected by tidal action. Dominated by cordgrass and wiregrass.
Higher plant diversity. Blue crab, shrimp, trout, redfish,
raccoon, mink, otters, and muskrats flourish.
Salt Marsh- closest to the shoreline. Most affected by wind and
tide.Oyster grass, redfish trout, crabs,and shrimp move in and
out.
Importance- provides winter habitat, support migratory birds,provide
a home for many endangered species. Important fisheries. Serve as
nurseries for shrimp, cabs, oysters, menhaden,and finfish. 40% of
nations wild fur harvests come from LA. Alligator harvest very
important to economy. Serve as a buffer against storm surge and
wind from Gulf of Mexico. Provide the foundation for the
estuaries food chain.
Threats- We lose 25-35 square miles per year. Subsidence, levees,
construction of oil and gas canals, navigation channels, dredging,
hurricanes and storm surges.
3. Coastal Prairie- dominated by tall grass and settled by
Acadians. Flat terrain. Densly packed hard clay layer 8-15 inches
below the surface of the water.
Densetall grass include big bluestem, switch grass, Indian grass
broomsedge, and paspalum interspersed with perrenial flowers. 500
species of plants.
Rich habitat for insects, birds, and small mammals. Butterflies
are prolific.
Importance- Creates topsoil. Historical important habitat. Native
plants are good for pharmacopoeia, provide man and animals with
resistance to future threats from disease agents. Between 1869-1872
there were 2.5 million acres of prairie. Today less than 1%
remain in the natural condition. Only about 200 acres are left.
Threats - Most of the land has been taken over to graze cattle
and raise sugar cane and rice. The invasion of exotic plants,
particularly the Chinese tallow tree pose the greatest threat.
4. Forested wetlands- cypress/tupelo gum swamps intermixed with
bottomland hardwood forests. Flooding causes the root systems to
become saturates and anaerobic (lacking oxygen). Deep water areas
flooded most of the time.
Relatively low plant diversity. Blackgum, willow, ash, maple, elm
and buttonbrush grow alonside vines such as trumpet vine, poison
ivy, and greenbriar. Spanish moss and mistletoe are ephiphytes.
Pondweed, duckweed, and widgeon grass provide food for waterfowl.
Herons, egrets, and ibisis nest here. Abundance of reptiles and
amphibians. Crawfish, bear, deer, squirrel and wood duck as well
as many native and migratory birds call this home.
Importance- Improve the quality of water. Nursery area for many
species.Provide food and wildlife shelter. Reduces the impact of
floods. Timber production.Crawfish industry.
Threats- Conversion of land to farmland. 90 square miles of
timber are cleared each year which result in degradated habitat
for many animals.
The development of agriculture provides excess nutrients that
encourage plant and algae growth. This results in dead ones that
can't support bottom-dwelling animals.
List some
plants and animals found in the wetlands.
Plants - grasses, rushes, sedges, moss,
trees, wild flowers, mistletoe, iris, cypress, gum, maple, pine, willow, ash, and trumpet vines
Animals - frogs, turtles, snakes,
raccoons, bear, alligators, heron, ibises, egrets, crawfish,
hawks, shrimp, crabs, deer, rabbits, ducks, insects and
butterflies.
Why are
wetlands important to humans? to wildlife? to the environment?
1. Filter and purify water
2. Provide habitat for fisheries, waterfowl, birds, and
furbearers
3. Flood protection
4. Esthetically beautiful
5. Recreation and tourism
6. Oil and gas reserves
What factors
contribute to the loss of wetlands?
Subsidence, hurricanes,
wave erosion, saltwater intrusion, tropical storms. lands drained
to create more land for agriculture and development, canal, levee,
and dam construction all contribute to loss of wetlands.
What are some things that middle school students can do to help protect wetland areas?
1. Get involved
2. Save water
3. Dispose of household products carefully
4. Care for your lawn cautiously - do not over fertilize or over-water
5. Practice sensible pest control
6.control run-oo from your yard
7. contro soil erosion
8. Maintain your septic system
9. Use car care products wisely
10. Contain chemical spills
11. Write a letter to your lawmaker
12. Christmas tree recycling
13. Beach cleanup
14. Don't litter