How many swamps are in the world

They can sustain a vast array of plant communities that in turn support a wide variety of wildlife within this vital wetland ecosystem. As a result, marshes sustain a diversity of life that is disproportionate with their size.

In addition to their considerable habitat value, non-tidal marshes serve to mitigate flood damage and filter excess nutrients from surface runoff. Unfortunately, like many other wetland ecosystems, freshwater marshes have suffered major acreage losses to human development. Some have been degraded by excessive deposits of nutrients and sediment from construction and farming. Severe flooding and nutrient deposition to downstream waters have often followed marsh destruction and degradation.

Such environmental problems prove the vital roles these wetlands play. This realization has spurred enhanced protection and restoration of marsh ecosystems, such as the prairie potholes and the Everglades. Tidal marshes can be found along protected coastlines in middle and high latitudes worldwide. They are most prevalent in the United States on the eastern coast from Maine to Florida and continuing on to Louisiana and Texas along the Gulf of Mexico.

Some are freshwater marshes, others are brackish somewhat salty , and still others are saline salty , but they are all influenced by the motion of ocean tides.

Tidal marshes are normally categorized into two distinct zones, the lower or intertidal marsh and the upper or high marsh. In saline tidal marshes, the lower marsh is normally covered and exposed daily by the tide. It is predominantly covered by the tall form of Smooth Cordgrass Spartina alterniflora. The saline marsh is covered by water only sporadically and is characterized by Short Smooth Cordgrass, Spike Grass and Saltmeadow Rush Juncus gerardii.

Saline marshes support a highly specialized set of life adapted for saline conditions. Tidal marshes serve many important functions. They buffer stormy seas, slow shoreline erosion and are able to absorb excess nutrients before they reach oceans and estuaries. Tidal marshes also provide vital food and habitat for clams, crabs and juvenile fish, as well as offering shelter and nesting sites for several species of migratory waterfowl.

Pressure to fill in these wetlands for coastal development has led to significant and continuing losses of tidal marshes, especially along the Atlantic coast. Pollution, especially near urban areas, also remains a serious threat to these ecosystems. Fortunately, most states have enacted special laws to protect tidal marshes, but diligence is needed to assure that these protective measures are actively enforced.

A swamp is any wetland dominated by woody plants. There are many different kinds of swamps, ranging from the forested Red Maple, Acer rubrum , swamps of the Northeast to the extensive bottomland hardwood forests found along the sluggish rivers of the Southeast. Swamps are characterized by saturated soils during the growing season and standing water during certain times of the year. The highly organic soils of swamps form a thick, black, nutrient-rich environment for the growth of water-tolerant trees such as Cypress Taxodium spp.

Some swamps are dominated by shrubs, such as Buttonbush or Smooth Alder. Plants, birds, fish, and invertebrates such as freshwater shrimp, crayfish, and clams require the habitats provided by swamps. Many rare species, such as the endangered American Crocodile, depend on these ecosystems as well.

Swamps may be divided into two major classes, depending on the type of vegetation present: shrub swamps and forested swamps. Swamps serve vital roles in flood protection and nutrient removal.

Floodplain forests are especially high in productivity and species diversity because of the rich deposits of alluvial soil from floods. Many upland creatures depend on the abundance of food found in the lowland swamps, and valuable timber can be sustainably harvested to provide building materials for people.

Due to the nutrient-rich soils present in swamps, many of these fertile woodlands have been drained and cleared for agriculture and other development. Swamps are often classified by the predominant type of tree growing there.

For example, there are hardwood swamps, cedar swamps and cypress swamps, according to National Geographic. They are found all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. Swamps are similar to lowland forests, which are forests in low-lying areas near water sources.

The difference between the two is that swamps usually have deeper standing water and are wet for longer periods of the year, according to the National Parks Service. Marshes have rich, waterlogged soils that support plant life, according to National Geographic. The plants that grow in marshes bind to the muddy soil, which slows the flow of the water. There are three kinds of marshes: tidal freshwater marshes, tidal saltwater marshes and inland freshwater marshes.

Tidal marshes are affected by the tides, although tidal freshwater marshes are further inland from the coast and mostly contain fresh water, with low saltwater content. The types of marshes we have here in Will County, which is located far from either coast, are inland marshes. These marshes are found along the edges of rivers and lakes. The most famous marsh in the United States is an inland marsh — the Everglades. The massive national park — the third biggest in the United States — is home to nine distinct types of habitat, including marshes, according to the Department of the Interior.

Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on email. Our analysts curate data sets that are peer-reviewed or based on transparent, established methodology. Which Regions Have the Most Wetlands? Wetlands and Climate Change.

Losing Wetlands. Degree in Environmental Sciences. YWP Spain. Blog associated to:. Smart Water Magazine. Themes Biodiversity. Therefore, today we highlight the 10 largest wetlands in the world: The Pantanal Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay : this floodplain is located in western Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil and portions of Bolivia and Paraguay. All photographs from Wikipedia. Subscribe to our newsletters. Recommended blog posts.