Wetlands, Peat, and Tundra Part 1
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wetland=
land that is saturated with water long enough to promote wetland or aquatic processes - poorly drained soils - hydrophytic vegetation - biological activity adapted to wet enviro
in wetlands, where is the water?
on top or just below the surface (& remains there for most/ all of the year)
Why does the north have a higher proportion of wetlands?
• temp (evapotranspiration) • geology: doesn’t drain well b/c frozen etc
There are 5 types of wetlands in Canada:
• bogs • fens • swamps • marshes • shallow waters (eg ponds)
which types of wetlands accumulate peat, and which don’t? Why?
Bogs and fens accumulate peat - dead moss/ organic matter Swamps/ marshes/ shallow waters don’t accumulate peat - b/c warmer= higher O2 for decomp and more nutrients
wetlands form along complex gradients including: 1 2 3
hydrology (how much water they have, esp seasonally) chemistry (esp nutrient- N and P- availability) biotic (ground layer development- mosses- and presence of a tree layer)
Peat= ____ organic matter (O horizon exceeds __cm) Peat forms when decomposition is slower than ___ due to ___ conditions
undecomposed 40cm deposition anaerobic
____ moss is a key species of peatlands. Why?
sphagnum spp produces chemicals that inhibit bacterial action (it’s acidic) so prevents decomp
Fens tend to succeed into ___, which succeed into ____ ____
swamps terrestrial systems
Canada has more peatlands than any other country! ~__% of Canada’s land area
12
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• global climate (C stores) • catchment hydrology • soil conditions
What are 3 uses of peatlands for humans? 1 use for animals?
• energy generation • humus and organic fertilizer • dry malted barely • habitat
Fewer peatlands as temp increases because they __ ___, which releases ___ ____
dry up stored carbon