The Wetlands of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge EarthCache
The Wetlands of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
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Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
America's wetlands play an integral role in the ecology of the
watershed. Generally, wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is
present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying
periods of time during the year. Wetlands vary widely because of regional
and local differences.
Wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent
except Antarctica. Wetlands are split into to categories, Coastal and
Inland. There are several types of wetlands, which include: ponds, marshes,
swamps, bogs, and fens. Regardless of what you call them, wetlands play an
integral role in the ecology of the watershed. The combination of shallow
water, high levels of nutrients, and primary productivity is ideal for the
development of organisms that form the base of the food chain and feed many
species of fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects. Also many species of
birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and shelter, especially
during migration and breeding.
Essentially wetlands are the transition between dry land and water (streams, rivers, lakes, and coastlines), wetlands take many forms including the familiar marshes, swamps and bogs. Yet, not all wetlands are "wet" year round. These "drier end" wetlands also perform significant wetland functions. Yet, these are often the target for many uses including agricultural and urban/suburban uses. Vast wetlands have formed in the lower reaches of the major rivers of the region.
Many of these wetlands have formed on clay soils deposited during the rise in sea-levels after the end of the last ice-age. The vegetation is dominated by sedges and grasses and forests that fringe many of the wetlands.
Established in 1938, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge offers a great
places to see all of this up close and personal. The coordinates listed
will carry you to the Wildlife Observation Building, located near the
Visitor Center; this is one of the best places to view large concentrations
of ducks and geese during winter months. During spring, wildflowers and
migrating songbirds are commonly seen. The summer months around Wheeler
offer some great fishing and if you are lucky you may see one of the
estimated 40-50 alligators currently inhabiting Wheeler National Wildlife
Refuge.
Definitions from From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pond is a body of water smaller than a lake. The difference between a pond and a lake is subjective; they are both formed by ponding water. Ponds are sometimes man-made.
A marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland which is subject to frequent or continuous overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land,.[1] Typically a marsh features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, and other herbaceous plants in a context of shallow water.
A swamp is a wetland that features temporary or permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water
A bog is a wetland type that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material.
Please read these carefully:
To receive credit for this Earthcache, you must complete the following
three requirements along with posting your log entry.
(1) Take a picture of yourself & GPS at the posted coordinates,
which is from the inside of the Wildlife Observation Building, with
the wetlands in the background, and upload it with your log entry.
(2) Email me a list of at least five of the types of waterfowl foul
that call this area home at some point of the year. With a little
reading at the Observation Building this will be easy.
(3) Based on the above info about the different types of wetlands, which include:
ponds, marshes, swamps, and bogs; email me which one you think this area is.
Permission was granted for this Earthcache by the Wheeler National Wildlife
Refuge (visit link) Dwight Cooley Project Leader
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