WETLANDS

Introduction-

Years ago, wetlands were thought to be useless waste lands, where insects like mosquitoes lived and bred disease.  Since wetlands were believed to be a waste of good space, people decided to find ways to alter the land so they could profit from it's existence.  People began paving over wetlands for parking lots and filling them in to build their homes.  The wetlands that weren't converted began to be polluted by trash and runoff.  Today however, we realize just how important wetlands are to us as humans, and to all types of animals.  The question now is, are we too late to save the wetlands, or can we manage to undue years of pollution and destruction and prevent the obliteration of an irreplaceable habitat? 

Information-

In today's activity, you will research wetlands to learn what they are and to discover just how important they are.  Through your research, you will gain an understanding of how their loss would impact you, as well as aquatic and terrestrial animals.  Visit the link to begin your quest for knowledge on the wetlands. http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/index.htm

Activity -

1) What is a wetland?

2) Why is it considered to be an intermediary between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems?  Supply at least 2 examples and explain how each example relates to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

3) Explain the different functions of a wetland.

4) After reading "Why are Wetlands Important" and "Wetlands in Danger", predict why man-mad wetlands do not function as well as natural ones.

5) If wetlands were to become extinct, how do you think you personally would be affected?  Provide support for your answers with information you have discovered from this site.