Wetlands Poster - Grade School

ESTUARINE WETLAND TYPES -- Continued

Mangrove Swamps The type of water is saltwater, and the dominant plants are mangrove trees. Mangrove trees have stilt-like roots to give them stable footing. Birds include egrets and ibis. Mangrove swamps are located primarily along southerly parts of Florida coasts and in Puerto Rico.

INLAND WETLANDS --

Wetlands that are not affected by tides. The type of water can be freshwater or saltwater.

INLAND WETLAND TYPES

	Inland Marshes and Wet Meadows The type of water is freshwater or saltwater, and the wetland is covered with shallow water much of the time. Vegetation is characterized by emergent and soft-stemmed plants, such as grasses, sedges, bulrushes, and cattails. These wetlands have many different kinds of flowering plants. Representative animal life includes marsh wrens, pintail ducks, bullfrogs, dragonflies, and mosquitoes. These wetlands occur throughout the United States in low-lying depressions.
	Forested Wetlands The type of water is freshwater, and the soils are often waterlogged in winter and early spring, but can be dry in summer. Vegetation primarily consists of trees. Black spruce trees represent the northern forested wetlands and bald cypress the southern forested wetlands. Representative animal life in northern forested wetlands includes woodpeckers, wood ducks, moose, and snowshoe hares. Representative animal life in southern forested wetlands includes raccoons, opossums, and alligators. Forested wetlands often accumulate dead organic matter called peat. Forested wetlands can be found in many areas of the United States.
	Shrub Wetlands The type of water is freshwater, and the vegetation type is characterized by woody vegetation less than 6 meters in height, such as black willows. Representative animal life includes red-winged blackbirds, mice, and muskrats. This wetland type is one of the most widespread in the United States and is very important in the Desert Southwest. Shrub wetlands primarily occur along rivers and streams and around lakes and reservoirs.

OTHER WETLANDS --

Wetlands in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. These wetlands are shallow-water habitats or unvegetated wetlands. Water is less than 2 meters deep. These wetlands may include a shoreline fringe of water lilies and underwater plants, or they may provide a home for small animals on an unvegetated streambed, beach, or bar. Representative plants and animals found in lake and reservoir wetlands include duckweed, water lilies, water striders, beavers, shrews, red-winged blackbirds, and osprey. Bears, snakes, mayflies, and water lilies might also be found in river wetlands.