Wetland Classification Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of a wetland?

Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water.

What type of soil is developed when it is saturated for 7-10 days during the growing season?

Hydric soil

What two types of mineral hydric soils are identified?

Gleying and mottling

What is hydrology in the context of wetlands?

The pathways by which water arrives and departs a wetland (precipitation, melt water, tides or ground water). Signup and view all the answers

Who first developed wetland classification and when?

The US Fish and Wildlife Service in the 1950s. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three attributes that characterize a wetland?

Supports predominately hydrophytes, has predominately undrained hydric soil, and is saturated or covered by shallow water during the growing season. Signup and view all the answers

What does hydrophytic vegetation indicate in wetlands?

It occurs in areas where saturation is good enough to influence the plant species present. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four plant groups in wetland indicator status?

Facultative upland (FACU) Signup and view all the answers

To be considered a wetland, an area needs to be flooded or saturated for consecutive days equaling to ___% of the growing season.

7.5 Signup and view all the answers

When did the US Fish & Wildlife begin the inventory of wetlands?

1974 Signup and view all the answers

What is the upland limit of wetlands?

The boundary between land with hydrophytic vegetation and land without this type of vegetation, and the boundary between hydric and non-hydric soil. Signup and view all the answers

What is the depth at which plants normally grow in deepwater wetlands?

6.6 feet Signup and view all the answers

What is a wetland system?

Refers to the complex of wetlands and deepwater habitats that share similar factors. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a marine system?

Open ocean and its coastline. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an estuarine system?

Wetlands semi-enclosed by land with access to the ocean. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a riverine system?

Wetlands contained within a channel. Signup and view all the answers

What does the lacustrine system describe?

Located in a topographical depression or dammed river channel. Signup and view all the answers

What type of wetland is mainly characterized by trees and shrubs?

Palustrine system. Signup and view all the answers

Match the lacustrine system subsystems with their definitions:

Limnetic = Deepwater habitats Littoral = Wetland habitats Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wetland Classification Study Notes

Wetlands are transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic systems, characterized by shallow water or a high water table.
Hydric soil forms when soil is saturated for 7-10 days during the growing season, creating anaerobic conditions in the upper soil layer.
Mineral hydric soils exhibit two types:
- Gleying - uniform gray or black colors
- Mottling - spots of bright orange/reddish brown (iron) or black (manganese) in soil.
Hydrology refers to the processes by which water enters and leaves a wetland, including precipitation, melt water, tides, and groundwater.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service developed wetland classification in the 1950s, categorizing wetlands into four types:
- Coastal freshwater
- Coastal saltwater
- Inland freshwater
- Inland saltwater.
For an area to qualify as a wetland, it must exhibit at least one of three attributes:
- Supports predominately hydrophytes periodically
- Contains predominantly undrained hydric soil
- Nonsoil layer is saturated with water or covered by shallow water during the growing season.
Hydrophytic vegetation indicates good saturation influence, affecting the plant species present in the wetland.
Four plant groups based on wetland indicator status include:
- Obligate wetland (OBL) - 99% occurrence in wetlands
- Facultative wetland (FACW) - 67-99% occurrence in wetlands
- Facultative (FAC) - 34-66% equally likely in wetlands and non-wetlands
- Facultative upland (FACU) - 66-99% occurrence in non-wetlands.
A wetland area must be flooded or saturated for at least 7.5% of the growing season (from first bud to first frost).
The US Fish & Wildlife Service began an inventory of wetlands in 1974 under Cowardin's system.
The upland limit of wetlands is defined by:
- The boundary between hydrophytic vegetation and non-hydrophytic vegetation
- The boundary between hydric and non-hydric soil
- The boundary between flooded and non-flooded land during the growing season.
The deepwater limit of inland wetlands is typically around 6.6 feet, representing the depth at which plants can grow.
Wetland systems comprise a complex of wetlands and deepwater habitats sharing similar environmental factors.
The marine system encompasses the open ocean and its coastlines.
The estuarine system includes wetlands that are semi-enclosed by land and have access to the ocean.
The riverine system consists of wetlands contained within a channel.
Lacustrine wetlands are located in topographical depressions or dammed river channels and include two subsystems:
- Limnetic - deepwater habitats
- Littoral - wetland habitats.
Palustrine systems are characterized as nontidal wetlands dominated by trees and shrubs.

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Test your knowledge on wetland classification with these flashcards. Each card covers key terms and definitions related to wetland ecosystems and their characteristics. Perfect for students studying environmental science or ecology.