Wetland Organisms 1
Wetland Definition Diagram 2
Stress Experienced In Wetlands Anoxia Salt Concentrations Water Fluctuation 3
Anoxic Conditions Soils saturated/inundated Anaerobic Conditions May vary with season 4
Salt Concentrations High salinity flux from tides 5
Salinity gradient types Intermittent (Seasonal) estuary: in Mediterranean climates, estuary forms during rainy season, dries or cut off in dry season. Salinity varies across seasons. 6
Tidal Systems Water Fluctuation Non-Tidal Systems 7
Anoxia (respiration) Protists Ability to use internal organic compounds as electron acceptors Ability to use inorganic ions in respiration Ability to use specific electron acceptors rather than oxygen sulfate Salt (osmotic & toxicity) Complex potassium in cytoplasm Enzymes function normally 8
Anoxia Vascular Plants Structural Nutrient absorption Metabolic Whole Plant Strategies Salt Barriers Secretory organs Water Photosynthesis 9
Structural Adaptations Aerenchyma Adventitious Roots Lenticels Pneumatophores Pressurized Gas Flow Rhizosphere Oxygenation 10
Aerenchyma 11
Aerenchyma 12
Adventitious Roots 13
Prop Roots 14
Prop Roots 15
Lenticels 16
Pneumatophores 17
Pneumatophores 18
Knee Roots 19
Knee Roots 20
Root Adaptations 21
Plank Roots 22
Pressurized Gas Flow Air moves into internal gas spaces of aerial leaves Forced down to roots by gradient of temperature and water vapor pressure 23
Oxidized Rhizosphere 24
Physiological Adaptations Nutrient Absorption Anaerobic Respiration Malate Production 25
Nutrient Absorption Normal metabolism in roots Nitrogen some wetland plants absorb ammonium Iron/Manganese oxidized rhizospheres protect Sulfur detoxification mechanisms 26
Rhizosphere Oxygenation 27
Anaerobic Respiration 28
Whole Plant Strategies Dormancy during flooding Seed Production in non-flooded season Buoyant Seeds Vivipary 29
Whole Plant Strategies 30
Vivipary 31
Adaptations to salt - plant Some: salt gland - eliminates excess salt, maintains water balance. E.g., Spartina alterniflora Vascular marsh plants either: Succulent: : have high water concentration To reduce water loss, have: few stomata, reduced leaf area, photosynthetic stems. Rid salts by shedding leaves Other halophytes (salt dwellers): rid salts by a) salt-secreting secreting glands; b) thin cuticles & many stomata high transpiration 32
Salt Adaptations Barrier Cells in roots Secretory Cells 33
Changes in Photosynthesis C 3 Biochemical Pathway Phosphoglyceric Acid Much more common C 4 Biochemical Pathway Oxaloacetic Acid Arid/wetter Use CO 2 More Effectively 34
Anoxia Animals Specialized organs for gas exchange Mechanism to improve oxygen gradient Better circulation system Decrease activity during oxygen stress Shifts metabolic pathways Salt Move Control internal osmotic concentrations 35
Salinity adaptations - faunal Behavioral: burrow, close up 36
Salinity adaptations - larvae Many larvae cannot osmoregulate Many estuarine inverts - pelagic larvae E.g., Callinectes sapidus, Eriocheir sinensis are catadromous 37
Purpose Wetland Delineation Jurisdictional Scientific Definition U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at frequency /duration sufficient to support vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditions. Diagnostic Characteristics Vegetation Soils Hydrology 38
Vegetation Indicator Status Categories Category Obligate Wetland Facultative Wetland Facultative Facultative Upland Obligate Upland Symbol OBL FACW FAC FACU UPL Likelihood of Occurring in Wetland >99% >67% to 99% 33% to 66% 1% to < 33% <1% 39
Wetland Soil Indicators NRCS Hydric Soil Field Indicators Organic Soils Mineral Soils Gleyed Chroma 1 with or without mottles Chroma 2 with mottles Sulfidic Material Sandy Soils High organic content at surface Streaked 40
Hydrology Indicators Recorded Data U.S. Corps of Engineers USGS State / Local Agencies Field Data Soil Saturation Watermarks Drift Lines Sediment Deposits 41
Preliminary Data Delineation Method USGS Quadranlge Maps NWI Maps Soil Survey Stream Gage EISs State Wetland Determinations Local Wetland Inventories Aerial Photographs In-Field Data (transects) Visual Changes Chose Representative Points Characterize Each Change Vegetation Soils Hydrology 42