Wetlands

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019

Wetlands

Aim: To learn about the wetland ecosystem.

                                                                                        Wetlands

What is a Wetland?

Any land consisting of marshes or swamps and land that is saturated with water.                                                                

4 different kinds of wetlands

1. Marsh - a wetland that is dominated by plants.
2. Swamp - an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects.
3. Bog - an area of wet muddy ground is very soft.
4. Mire / fen - a stretch of swampy or boggy ground.

Common wetland plants in NZ

Name	Image	Purpose
EG: Swamp weed		Food for fish and birds Home for fish and birds Cleans the water
Bulrush		1. Can be a filter 2. Can make weaves basket 3. Can made for flour and syrup.
Harakeke		1. Can also use for making weaves. 2. It can be used to make a container. 3. produce rope and linen.
Raupo		Just like Bulrush.
Toitoi		1.  It was also used to make containers to cook food in hot springs.  2. as frames for kites 3. The seed heads themselves were used on fresh wounds to stop bleeding.

Common animals, insects, birds you may find in a NZ wetland.

Name	Image	Food
Duck		Corn Lettuce Peas
Frog		1. Mosquitoes 2. Meat 3. grasshopper
Butterfly		1. Tree sap 2. Salt 3. Fruit
Grey Heron		1.Fish 2.Water rail 3.Insect in shallow water
Dragonfly		1.Mosquitoes 2. Moths 3. Midges
Fish		1. Larvae 2.Other fishes