|
<br />account for about 90% of all U.S. wetlands. They are inland, fresh",..ater areas
<br />of marshes, bogs, and swamps, and some brackish and salt marshes in arid
<br />and semi.arid areas.
<br />\'Vetland plants are particularly efficient converters of solar energy. Their
<br />major food value is achieved when they die and fragment to detritus. Numerous
<br />fish and wildlife species feed in marshes and swamps or on organisms that
<br />were produced in such areas. Some animals spend their entire lives in flood-
<br />plain \vetlands, while others use the \vetlands primarily for reproduction,
<br />
<br />Typical Inland Wetland
<br />
<br />
<br />u
<br />
<br />LJ
<br />
<br />Seepage Weiland
<br />on Slope
<br />
<br />Depressional
<br />Wetland
<br />
<br />nursery grounds, or for drinking water. About 50% of the endangered species
<br />in the United States require wetland habitat at some point in their life cycles;
<br />wetlands are crucial to the survival of the American crocodile, the manatee,
<br />the whooping crane, and the tvlississippi sandhill crane. Both coastal and
<br />inland wetlands also provide valuable habitat for such furbearers as muskrat,
<br />beaver, otter, mink, and raccoon, as well as numerous reptiles and amphibians.
<br />Large mammals, such as black bears, white-tailed deer, and caribou, also find
<br />refuge and food in wetland areas,
<br />
<br />Riparian Systems
<br />Riparian floodplains are distinct associations of soils, flora, and fauna
<br />that occur in narrow strips along rivers, streams, or other bodies of \....ater and
<br />depend for survival upon high water tables and occasional flooding. They are
<br />
<br />
<br />Health)' riparian ecosystems are essential Jor mIlinwining tlu> biologital divmit;, cif the nation's flora The;'
<br />also provide Mslhetic pleasure.
<br />
<br />It~tland vegelation, JO)'Cf Kilmer A1emoml Forest, }'.'arth Carolina.
<br />
<br />FLOODPLAINS AS HABITAT
<br />
<br />. Black ducks migraling in Ih{ .''!llrwtic RHt-'a)' 1l5e
<br />the northern mit manhn (H Ihtir jnimar)' winlerin,f.
<br />grounds.
<br />
<br />. bllatidal mud/rats a!cm,li Iiii' coast.\ arr t}1!' prin-
<br />nj!aIJel'ding grounds j'ur ml:!{ralo~l' \}um'hirdJ, most
<br />,hortbird, breed in Alaskan and otha lund!(1
<br />1.I'dlana'1
<br />
<br />. .\/is,'il'l/jpi Rilla jloodptaulS art" the .'Iu{jor rn-tmg
<br />and iel'di'l':! grolmdj for dl<cks and gee.\'e' during lli{ir
<br />.fall "nd .\prlnK ml~t;ratimH
<br />
<br />. During dr'Jughts ili Ill(: lirairit pOlhole r~giG!L
<br />.--liaika".o; lutlandJ arr Imu'il;' li.v'li Jor !inling ~;
<br />Sorth A.meriran 1i.)lllt~!fJ1(i
<br />
<br />. Hmraii', I1Oft/ands art i"prn'aLly imporlant Iri
<br />(',!dangard b!-rds.
<br />
<br />. .--Irizona S nali/'(' (Ij/tOl'/1t'OfHl-u.illow a.l.wciatilj!J.l
<br />
<br />iuppurt .Iugha dO/Jilin aml a gnula dilia,ri{y ,?l
<br />brrrdmg bird f/ndn Ihan iF~} olher rUsert habitat.
<br />
<br />. l},1" pmirie pOlholr rq;iml (!/IIi(' Dako{as is tlir
<br />II/ain f.Jfi'f'dir',!i arl'a .lor aater/ow{ in thl' United
<br />Staln-
<br />
<br />. .J}"I S'llI Ptdro RiNr'; riparian ra.s);:ilem m
<br />s'ililhm;'11T11 Arl:;orw prm.u:.'cs luslin/;, ml::;ralo~J'. (lr
<br />il'in!ni!lg habitat Ii! at lrasl 20 raplor _\p(cir\ and
<br />'l/Jr.'!/,' 2/() spairs (lolho bird:" A 5tlll1.> r("(ordrr! 78
<br />I,tHyico 1/llwmmaiJ lTi the grassland.\ ((inidor
<br />b.tu'(,f'rl ..iu njjurilw It'roodlandJ- ana' adjacent mOlm-
<br />,'am,l. 1111 \fiowl-I/!:i,:hrst mll!nmahar! dil'Nsiy in the
<br />,f'or/rl
<br />
<br />
<br />CanUlsback du.ck, salt IlUIrsh, A'ew Engliznd
<br />
<br />
<br />Great blur heron, Alerrimack Ritv:r, .\'ew Hampshire
<br />
<br />-
<br />11
<br />
<br />
|