Glossary
Coastal/Tidal Wetlands
Wetland areas usually associated with estuaries, where freshwater meets saltwater, and salinity can vary.
Example:
Salt marshes along the Atlantic coast are a type of coastal/tidal wetland that provides critical nursery grounds for many marine species.
Commercial Development
The conversion of natural areas, such as wetlands, into sites for businesses, housing, or infrastructure, leading to habitat destruction.
Example:
The construction of a new shopping mall on a filled-in marsh represents commercial development that destroys valuable wetland ecosystems.
Cultural Eutrophication
The acceleration of eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) in an aquatic ecosystem due to human activities, often leading to harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
Example:
Excessive fertilizer use on suburban lawns contributes to cultural eutrophication in local lakes, turning the water green with algae.
Dam Construction
The building of barriers across rivers, which can divert water flow and prevent it from reaching downstream wetlands, leading to their degradation.
Example:
A large dam construction project upstream significantly reduced the water flow to a delta wetland, causing it to dry out and lose its unique plant species.
Estuaries
Bodies of water where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating unique brackish conditions.
Example:
The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary that supports a rich diversity of aquatic life due to its mix of fresh and salt water.
Flood Protection
An ecosystem service where wetlands absorb excess water during heavy rainfall, preventing or reducing downstream flooding.
Example:
During a hurricane, coastal wetlands provide vital flood protection by acting as a buffer, soaking up storm surge waters before they reach inland communities.
Habitat
An ecosystem service where wetlands provide a home and breeding ground for a wide variety of species, making them biodiversity hotspots.
Example:
The diverse plant life and shallow waters of a marsh create an ideal habitat for migratory birds, amphibians, and fish.
Inland/Non-tidal Wetlands
Wetland areas found near rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, characterized by freshwater conditions.
Example:
A swamp in Louisiana, filled with cypress trees, is a classic example of an inland/non-tidal wetland.
Keystone Species
A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, playing a critical role in maintaining ecosystem structure.
Example:
Sea otters are a keystone species in kelp forests; their predation on sea urchins prevents the urchins from overgrazing and destroying the kelp.
Mangroves
Specialized trees and shrubs that thrive in salty coastal intertidal zones, forming unique forest ecosystems.
Example:
The dense root systems of mangroves along tropical coastlines help stabilize shorelines and protect against storm surges.
Overfishing
Harvesting fish at a rate faster than they can reproduce, leading to a decline in fish populations and potential food web collapse.
Example:
Intensive trawling in coastal waters led to overfishing of a key fish species, disrupting the entire food web within the nearby estuary.
Pollutant Runoff
Water flowing over land that picks up and carries harmful substances like pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals into aquatic ecosystems.
Example:
After a heavy rain, pollutant runoff from agricultural fields carried excess nutrients into a nearby pond, triggering an algal bloom.
Water Purification
An ecosystem service where wetlands filter pollutants from runoff, acting as natural treatment plants.
Example:
Before reaching larger rivers, agricultural runoff passes through a constructed wetland designed for water purification, removing excess nitrates and phosphates.
Wetlands
Areas where water covers the soil either part or all of the time, acting as transition zones between land and water.
Example:
The Florida Everglades are a vast example of a wetland ecosystem, crucial for biodiversity and water regulation.