Louisiana Coastal Roots High

Read and Discuss"The swamps and marshes of coastal Louisiana are among

the Nation's most fragile and valuable wetlands, vital not only to recreational and agricultural interests but also the State's more than $1 billion per year seafood industry. The staggering annual losses of wetlands in Louisiana are caused by human activity as well as natural processes. U.S. Geological Survey scientists are conducting important studies that are helping planners to understand the life cycle of wetlands by detailing the geologic processes that shape them and the coast, and by providing geologic input to models for mitigation strategies."

S. Jeffress Williams, U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey

Marine and Coastal Geology Program From: http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/LAwetlands/lawetlands.html

Wetland CharacteristicsThere are three major characteristics of wetlands:

water, plants, and soil.

Types of Wetlands include:Bog - wetland ecosystem that is highly acidic and has an accumulation of dead plants known as peatSwamp - wetland characterized by trees and shrubsSalt Marsh - community of plants living in salty soil that is flooded and exposed by alternating tides-found along the shores of bays and riversFreshwater Marsh - community of plants living in fresh water found along the shores of ponds, lakes, streams, and some rivers

Wetland Characteristics• Examples of Wetlands – continued

Prairie Pothole - wetland found in the grasslands of central North AmericaMangrove Forest - fresh or salt water wetland found in tropical areas such as Africa, Mexico, coastal Australia, and the Southern United StatesSandy Beach - sandy soil containing vegetation such as beach grasses, often found along the ocean and on bays and some riversVernal Pools - bodies of water that often exist only during the spring and dry up for the rest of the year (source: wetlands.org)

Wetland CharacteristicsWater

Wetlands may LOOK dry or wet, but the land/area must be saturated or flooded only 7.5% of the growing season to satisfy the “water” characteristic of a wetland.

Wetland CharacteristicsSoil

Hydric soil – wet during growing season making soil anoxic (no oxygen)

Organic SoilMineral SoilSoil Horizons

____________ Layer ____________Layer ____________Layer

Wetland CharacteristicsPlants

Wetland plants are hydrocytes. They grow in water or in soil that is anoxic.

Unique reproductionFresh water plantsSalt water plantsHow do you think plants and trees remain

upright in saturated or flooded soil?

Animals of the WetlandsWetland habitat for many animals (bugs, fish,

mammals, reptiles)

Food Web

Extinct and endangered species

Functions of the WetlandsFilters

Limit flooding

Prevent erosion

Source of food and recreation

Animal and plant habitat

Economic Development

Louisiana WetlandsRed River

Avery Island

Cocadrie

Golden Meadow

Northshore

http://www.wetmaap.org

Wetland grasses

Barrier Formations

Cypress Trees