Major Points
- Biodiversity are often endangered because they can be hard to identify.
- Constant change, makes wetlands ecologically rich; they are often as diverse as rain forests.
- Central to the life cycle of many plants and animals, some of them endangered.
- More than 9 million acres between the 1950s and 1970s were wiped out and some have completely lost their wetlands.
- Climate change is linked to the disappearance of wetlands.
- Some states have almost entirely lost their wetlands: California and Ohio only retain 10% of their original expanse.
- It is estimated that 6% of all land is currently wetlands.
- Wetlands are shallow-water systems, or areas where water is at or near the surface for sometime.
- They form in surface depressions almost anywhere.
- Water rises or falls in accordance with tides, precipitation or runoff; activities of humans and other animals can also determine water levels.
- Existence of some wetlands is related to the ravages of hurricanes, floods and droughts.
- Misunderstanding has also led to any well-intentioned proposals to stabilize water levels in wetlands.
Summary
Wetlands are an important part of the environment because they're home to many endangered and non endangered species. Wetlands are formed by events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts. The presences of wetlands are disappearing due to the amount of their nature changing so often. For example wetlands in Hawaii are almost wiped out, but compared to California there is no wetlands here. Wetlands depend on the levels of water, which are changing because they're either rising or falling or because of actions and/or activities caused by humans and animals. Humans are destroying wetlands due to construction of homes, farmings, and buildings. Misunderstanding has led to proposals to stabilize water levels in wetlands. Since water levels rise and fall continuously, portions of wetlands at times resemble true aquatic systems, at times terrestrial systems and at times intermediate systems. Plants, animals and as well as microbes are constantly adapting and changing.
Wetlands are an important part of the environment because they're home to many endangered and non endangered species. Wetlands are formed by events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts. The presences of wetlands are disappearing due to the amount of their nature changing so often. For example wetlands in Hawaii are almost wiped out, but compared to California there is no wetlands here. Wetlands depend on the levels of water, which are changing because they're either rising or falling or because of actions and/or activities caused by humans and animals. Humans are destroying wetlands due to construction of homes, farmings, and buildings. Misunderstanding has led to proposals to stabilize water levels in wetlands. Since water levels rise and fall continuously, portions of wetlands at times resemble true aquatic systems, at times terrestrial systems and at times intermediate systems. Plants, animals and as well as microbes are constantly adapting and changing.
Reflection
After reading this article about wetlands, I learned that wetlands are a very important source of the environment, plus I didn't know that they were disappearing. Once reading through and finding out why they were disappearing I didn't find it so shocking that us Humans are part of the major reasons why. We are doing so much harm to our beautiful planet that slowly everything around us is beginning to disappear without us even really noticing it. We are basically destroying everything expansion for us is important. So building cities and homes is what we want in order to provide us satisfaction. We aren't the only reason why wetlands are disappearing; there are other causes such as natural ones, but behind most of them we are the ones leading it.
After reading this article about wetlands, I learned that wetlands are a very important source of the environment, plus I didn't know that they were disappearing. Once reading through and finding out why they were disappearing I didn't find it so shocking that us Humans are part of the major reasons why. We are doing so much harm to our beautiful planet that slowly everything around us is beginning to disappear without us even really noticing it. We are basically destroying everything expansion for us is important. So building cities and homes is what we want in order to provide us satisfaction. We aren't the only reason why wetlands are disappearing; there are other causes such as natural ones, but behind most of them we are the ones leading it.