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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Figure 21. Stop 9. The Marsh. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />You are now in the middle of a small marsh. Look <br />here for red-winged blackbirds, frogs, and <br />snakes, that make their homes and hunt for food <br />among the cattails. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The animals and plants that live together in the <br />same area, and have an effect upon each other, <br />make up a community. These organisms become <br />dependent upon each other. For example, the <br />frogs come to eat the insects which live among <br />the cattails. Then in turn, the frogs serve as <br />food for the snakes that live in the area. Each <br />member of a community has its place. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The marsh is a very wet area which is slowly <br />changing itself into a dry area. At one time the <br />river flowed where the marsh stands. However, <br />the river's course moved eastward and this area <br />began to fill with sediment. Along the more <br />shallow edges the cattails and other aquatic <br />plants began to grow. Now, as these plants grow, <br />their roots tie the soil together. These firmly <br />rooted plants collect more sediment, and as they <br />die, their matter decays and builds up the soil. <br />Very slowly, the land is becoming higher and new <br />plants that need less moisture will move in where <br />the cattails now grow. Eventually the marsh will <br />be gone with the area being drier, growing only <br />trees and shrubs. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />This is called succession. It is the natural <br />sequence of communities which succeed and replace <br />one another over time. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />.~ <br />