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 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• Dredging and stream

channelization• Deposition of fill material• Diking and damming• Tilling for crop

production• Levees• Logging• Mining

• 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 Displacement•Subsidence•Sea level rise•Droughts•Hurricanes and other large

storms become more severe

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 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.jpghttp://wildlovephotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/

Mink_WakarusaWetlands.jpghttp://s3.favim.com/orig/46/colorful-cute-deer-eyes-glossy-Favim.com-417378.jpghttp://www.toddicus.com/dead%20beaver.JPGhttp://www.cartinafinland.fi/en/imagebank/image/17/17874/dead+muskrat+17874.jpghttp://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/44/70/2447074_db14d00d.jpghttp://www.dismuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dead_deer.jpg