Protecting the
Wetlands
By: Sarika Mujumdar, Celeste
Cappadoccia, and Ashley Christian
WHAT ARE WETLANDS?
• Swamps
• Marshes
• Peatlands
THE PROBLEM!
• Wetlands are being drained and filled in
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for agricultural and recreational
businesses
This destroys the organisms that live
there, such as trees, fish, birds, etc.
Invasive species also start to take over
wetlands, negatively affecting the
biodiversity
WHY ARE WETLANDS
IMPORTANT?
• Natural filters for water pollution
• Flooding gets reduced by vegetation
• Provide a habitat for various species
• Support fish and birds
• Provide different building materials for
humans
HOW ARE HUMANS CAUSING
IT?
• Drainage
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Dredging and stream
channelization
Deposition of fill material
Diking and damming
Tilling for crop
production
Levees
Logging
Mining
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Construction
Run- off
Air and water
pollution
Changing nutrient
levels
Release of toxic
chemicals
Introduction of
invasive species
Grazing by domestic
animals
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES
• Invasive species out compete native
•
•
•
animals for food and habitats
Causes an increase in the invasive
species
Causes the native animals to suffer
Destroyed organisms can ruin the
equilibrium of a habitat
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
• Erosion/Water
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Displacement
Subsidence
Sea level rise
Droughts
Hurricanes and other large
IMPACT OF EROSION
• Erosion is the gradual destruction of
land by water, rocks, wind, etc.
• Messes up the organization of
•
wetlands by destroying trees and
animals
Water displacement
IMPACT OF NATURAL
DISASTERS
• Hurricanes can kill organisms and cause
floods
• Droughts kill the organisms because no
water is present
• Rising of the sea level can cause floods
• Subsidence causes the wetland to sink,
destroying all of its inhabitants
OTHER HUMAN
INTERFERENCES
• Humans cut down a lot of trees in the
wetlands
• Water Pollution- Humans use water
•
transportation (boats, ships) through
the wetlands, killing organisms
Fishing in the wetlands disturbs the
food chain, so organisms become more
vulnerable
BUT WE CAN STILL HELP!
• Check out the wetlands around you
• Sign up/raise money for a non-profit
organization
• Spread the word about protecting
wetlands
• Cut down less trees
IMPACT ON THE
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
• There will be less carbon so no plants will grow
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and there would be problems with
photosynthesis
Nitrogen would not be affected
Phosphorus would not be affected
Animals wouldn't have enough safe water,
since much of the water would be displaced,
causing floods in some places and droughts in
others
Animals of the Wetlands
THE DESTRUCTION
KILLS THE ANIMALS!!! :(
THANK YOU! :) (CITATIONS)
"Wetlands." LEARNING CENTER. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2013.
"Human Impact of Wetland Ecosystems." Human Impact of Wetland Ecosystems. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May
2013.
"Causes and Impacts of Invasive Alien Species." Causes and Impacts of Invasive Alien Species. N.p., n.d.
Web. 31 May 2013.
"WETLANDS AND THE EIA PROCESS." The Environmental Impact Assessment Toolkit. N.p., n.d. Web. 31
May 2013.
"Human Impacts and Management of Wetlands." Human Impacts and Management of Wetlands. N.p., n.d.
Web. 31 May 2013.
Pictures:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/Y87cEA6dmMQ/UDRreXgDIaI/AAAAAAAAAa0/IVDlZodQyoA/s1600/Beaver+Animal.jpg
http://c1planetsavecom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2010/09/3520794450_9e42dc72bb.jpg
http://wildlovephotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Mink_WakarusaWetlands.jpg
http://s3.favim.com/orig/46/colorful-cute-deer-eyes-glossy-Favim.com-417378.jpg
http://www.toddicus.com/dead%20beaver.JPG
http://www.cartinafinland.fi/en/imagebank/image/17/17874/dead+muskrat+17874.jpg
http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/44/70/2447074_db14d00d.jpg
http://www.dismuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dead_deer.jpg