Wetlands

Wetlands are areas where water

• covers the soil or
• is present near the surface of the soil, for varying periods of time during the year.

Water saturation (hydrology) largely determines the types of plant and animal communities living in and on the soil.

Wetlands may support both

• aquatic and
• terrestrial species.

The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favor the growth of specially adapted plants (hydrophytes) and promotes the development of characteristic wetland (hydric) soils.

Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in

• soils
• topography
• hydrology
• water chemistry
• climate
• vegetation
• other factors, including human disturbance.

Wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent except Antarctica. Wetlands come in a variety of forms, including

• mangrove swamps in Florida
• bogs and fens in the Northeast
• wet meadows and wet prairies in the Midwest
• bottomland hardwood swamps in the South
• tidal salt marshes along the Coasts and even
• tundra wetlands in Alaska.

Many of these wetlands are seasonal and may dry out one or more seasons every year. But even wetlands that appear dry at times for significant parts of the year can provide critical habitat for wildlife adapted to feeding and breeding exclusively in these areas.

Click here for Value of Wetlands information.