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UWC
Enviro Facts |
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"Wetlands are
difficult to define because of their great variation in size and
location. The most important features of wetlands are: Waterlogged
soils or soils covered with a shallow layer of water (permanently or
seasonally), unique types of soil, and distinctive plants adapted to
water-saturated soils. Marshes, bogs, swamps, vleis and sponges are
examples of wetlands." |
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Rennies
Wetland project |
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"A wetland is wet
land (i.e. land which is wet) ! But not all wet land results in a
wetland. Why is this so? A wetland is found where the land is wet
enough (i.e. saturated or flooded) for long enough to be unfavourable
to most plants but are favourable to plants adapted to anaerobic soil
conditions. As soil becomes increasingly wet, the water starts to,
fill the space; between the soil particles. When all the spaces are
filled with water the soil is said to be saturated. In areas which are
not wetlands, water drains away quickly and the soil does not remain
saturated. However, in wetlands the water persists or drains away very
slowly and the soil remains saturated or flooded for long periods.
Soil in these conditions is said to be waterlogged. Depending on
factors such as temperature, it usually takes a week or so for the
plant roots and other living organisms in the soil to use up the
oxygen, causing anaerobic conditions to develop in the waterlogged
soil." |
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Endangered
Wildlife Trust |
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- "Wetlands
are ecosystems or habitats for specific plants and animals that
are saturated with water. The presence or absence of water
determines their formation, processes and characteristics.
- Wetlands
are characterised by specific vegetation, particular soils and the
presence of water at least for a period of time in the year. A
wetland may have all of these characteristics or only one or two
of them.
- Floodplains,
marshes, bogs, deltas, swamps, peatlands, estuaries, river
catchments and lakes are all types of wetland.
- Wetlands
occur in areas ranging from higher altitude mountain ranges
(seeps), through to mid-catchment areas (marshes), through to
estuaries at the coast.
- Some
wetlands are constantly wet but others temporarily dry up.
- The
type of wetland present depends on the soils, the rainfall,
climate and the topography."
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