Food for the Masses
Wetlands are vital sources of food for migrating birds. Birds may spend several days or even more than a week at a wetland.
They often eat enough to double their weight before continuing their journey.
- Wetland conservation (Ducks Unlimited Canada web site)
http://www.ducks.ca/
index.html - Wetlands: Their role and their conservation (Environment Canada web site)
http://www.ec.gc.ca/
water/en/nature/
wetlan/e_wetlan.htm
Yes, it is true!
- Canada has about 1.5 million square kilometres of wetlands (1 495 591 square kilometres, actually).
- That's about one-quarter of all of the world's wetlands.
- Wetlands cover about 15% of Canada's land mass. That's nearly the size of Quebec.
A wetland in New Brunswick, Canada.
There are a couple of reasons why Canada is rich in wetlands.
Canada has had many ice ages in its history. At those times, glaciers weighed so heavily on the land that they compressed it. When they melted, they left low places behind in the landscape where water could collect.
Also, the country's rocks and soil hold water close to the surface, rather than drain it away or store it deep underground.
What Lives in Wetlands? on page 2
Wetlands Come in Different Kinds
Swamps are often not much more than spongy land with just a few centimetres of water on top—your feet would get wet if you walked there. Swamps support many plants, including trees and bushes.
Marshes are areas of shallow water, about 15 to 90 cm deep. You will see rooted plants such as cattails and rushes, as well as floating plants. Trees and bushes are rare.
Peatlands (also called bogs, or fens) are areas of really short vegetation, usually sphagnum. There are only a few trees. Fens will also support wildflowers.
Most peatlands are bogs that are made of layers of partly decomposed and flooded plant material. The water may not be visible, so it may appear that you can walk on the plants. But, chances are that you would sink into the water that lies underneath the plants. And the water can be really deep! Even large animals like moose can get stuck in a bog.
Shallow waters are found on the edges of lakes and oceans. They are also considered to be wetlands. They are a transition zone between other forms of wetlands and deeper water. Shallow waters are usually no more than 60 cm deep in mid-summer. This kind of wetland also includes intertidal zones, such as tide pools and mud flats.
Wetland Wonderland
Video (9 min. 57 sec.)
