Wetland Ecology
Students research wetland plants and present their information to the class.
They learn the ecological services provided by wetlands and the factors that determine wetland boundaries. Wetland conservation is also covered.
Grades: 8-12
Time Needed: 3 hours + research time before the field study
Muhlenberg College Wetland Ecology Module/Unit (PDF File - 4.4 MB)
Lehigh Valley Watershed Module/Unit - by Therese Ehrenreich, Whitehall High School
(PDF File 3.83 MB)
Sample Watershed Brochure (PDF File, .5 MB - For classroom use only)
LESSON 1- Wetland Metaphors
Web sites for the teacher:
Association of State Wetland Managers.
https://www.aswm.org/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Wetlands - https://epa.gov/owow/wetlands
The Functions of Wetlands - https://www.epa.gov/wetlands
LESSON 2 - Living Labels- Wetland Plants
Web sites for the teachers and students:
Connecticut Botanical Society
https://www.ct-botanical-society.org/index.html
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center- Native Plant Information Network
https://www.wildflower.org/plants-main
Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening Plantfinder
https://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/serviceplantfinder.shtml
NatureServe Explorer- Online Encyclopedia of Life
https://explorer.natureserve.org/
North Carolina State University- Marginal Aquatics
https://aquaticweeds.wordpress.ncsu.edu/
Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry- Common Trees of Pennsylvania
https://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/commontr/
Plant Conservation Alliance- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping in Maryland
https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1033/ML103360124.pdf
Plant Conservation Alliance- Plant Invaders of the Mid-Atlantic
https://www.invasive.org/alien/pubs/midatlantic/midatlantic.pdf
Plants for a Future- Online Database
https://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/D_search.html
Purdue University Center for New Crop and Plant Products- Crop Search
https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/
University of Main Cooperative Extension- Native Plant Recommendations
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/manual/plants-for-the-maine-landscape/
University of Pennsylvania- PA Flora Project
https://paflora.org/original/
US Geological Survey- Northeast Wetland Flora
https://www.usgs.gov/
Virginia Natural Heritage Program- Native Plant Tables
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/
Washington Natural Heritage Program- Field Guide to Selected Rare Plants of Washington
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/NHPfieldguide
Wellesly College- Web of Species
http://www.wellesley.edu/Biology/Web/Directory/directory_a.html
LESSON 3 - Wetland Vegetation Survey
Web sites for the teacher and students:
West Coast (of British Colombia) Environmental Law, Selected Wetland Glossary
https://www.wcel.org/sites/default/files/publications/Deregulation%20Backgrounder%20-%20Forest%20&%20Range%20Practices%20Act_0.pdf
LESSON 4- Wetland Soils
Web sites for the teacher:
NOAA/Forecast Systems Laboratory. Globe, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Planet.
https://www.globe.gov
US Forest Service. Investigating Your Environment
https://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/ce/iye/contents.htm
Web sites for the students:
University of Illinois Extension. Four Major Components of Soil.
https://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case2/facts.html
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Soil Science Education Homepage
https://earth.gsfc.nasa.gov/bio/
LESSON 5 - Wetland Hydrology
Web sites for the teacher and students:
Please see Lesson 3
LESSON 6- Wetland Topography
Web sites for the teacher:
Kid's Gardening - Let it Flow.
https://kidsgardening.org/
US Geological Survey Learning Web. What Do Maps Show?
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70039472
