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(Shrek voice) Get outta my swamp! But is it really a swamp? Learn how to tell the difference between the 4 main types of wetlands: swamps, marshes, fens, and bogs!
Transcript
Hi, I’m Ben, and I’m in a swamp right now! Right?
Or is this a marsh? Wait, what’s a bog??
Hi, I’m Ben, and this is definitely a swamp, and let me tell you why!
Swamps are wetlands that are fed by surface water and dominated by woody plants. This here specifically is a mangrove forest because the environment is dominated by these mangrove trees, with their salt tolerant roots and knees.
So, what’s a marsh? This! Marshes are also fed by surface water, but they’re dominated by grassy, soft herbaceous plants like this.
But there’s a secret third option for wetlands. Come closer, closer. Peatlands! Why are you so close?
Peatlands include fens and bogs which are pretty similar. They tend to form in basins that collect rainwater. Bogs only get rainwater and they’re very acidic. They’re mostly made of mosses and soft squishy ground made from dead plant matter known as peat.
But fens are special. They get additional water from ground water or rivers and that water brings in nutrients that keeps the water from getting too acidic. Fens are dominated by mosses and soft plants like sedges. They’re home to a ton of verve species and are better than rain forests at capturing carbon.
If you’d like to learn more, check out my channel for a full video on wetlands! And
follow for more cool science!
Credits
- Amanda Dyar (writing, camera)
- Ben Rankin (host, research, writing, editing)
Music
- Election time: kjartan_abel/Freesound