Wetlands Ecosystem Study Unit

Investigate - How are wetland habitats an essential part of a community's ecosystem?

Habitat Information:

Vocabulary to Master:

Habitat, ecosystem, aquifer, watershed, wetland, estuary, marsh, bog, erosion, pond, filter, groundwater, adapt, vertebrate, invertebrate, ecologist, autotroph, heterotroph, niche, riparian buffer, population, hydrology, ecologic community, biodiversity. (Use Free Printable Flashcard Maker to create your own flashcards to use as a study aid)

Habitat Frayer worksheet pdf / doc.

What is a wetland? Complete a Frayer Model for Wetlands - doc. format | pdf. format

Relationships - Three broad categories are used to describe the relationship of wetlands to other surface waters:

* Lacustrine wetlands are associated with lakes.
* Riverine wetlands are found along shores of rivers and streams.
* Palustrine wetlands are not associated with lakes, rivers or streams.

Describe the kinds of organisms that live in each kind. Are they unique? Do they change through the cycle of seasons?

List several natural events that may impact a wetland habitat.

Explain why preserving wetlands is important for maintaining biodiversity.

How does having a wetland benefit the landowner and the community?

Select one: acid mine drainage, nonpoint source pollution (runoff), soil erosion or dredging/draining.

*How does it impact a wetland ecosystem?

Riparian Buffers - School Property Runoff Investigation - action activity

Identify a riparian buffer in your community. Assess its biodiversity and viability.

Analyze - Listen to A Bog's Goodbye - What do you think - Intervene? Let it go?

*Are there any bogs in your region or state?
*What is the status of the bog - Thriving? Declining?

Evaluate - Identify a location, at your school or community park, where a wetland habitat could be developed or should be protected and preserved.

If a stream runs through it, what should the landowner do?

Observation skills builders: Hole | Pool | Water (basic)

Complete Lentic or Lotic Ecosystems. (basic)

Show what you know - Identify 2 lentic and 2 lotic ecosystems in your region.

Map and inventory local wetlands (mid to advanced)

Wetland Ecology Dilemmas investigation

Wetlands: Habitat / Mammals / Birds / Macrovertebrates - Aquatic Insects / Plants & trees / Amphibians / Conclusions

Food Web Relationships / Wetland Ecology Vocabulary Exercise / Life Cycles / Mammal Morphology: compare - contrast

Bats are our Buddies / Amphibians Internet Activity / Wetland or Frog Song activity / Competition Conundrums

Name that Duck practice / Eagles Evaluation / Wetland Poem Project

Citizen Science Projects - collect some data / Collecting data pdf. - doc. / Digital Science Journal

Wetlands Trees of Pennsylvania Puzzle / Monitor Wetland / Environmental/Energy Issue Video Project

Water & Watershed Studies / Environmental careers / Great Outdoors Celebration - pbl

Nature / Milkweed & Monarch Butterfly Mania / Bluebirds Project / Best Treat of All / Fields, Fencerows & Meadows