WETLANDS
Save the Bog Turtles
What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are the link between the land and the water. They are transition zones where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the energy of teh sun meet to produce a unique ecosystem characerized by hydrology, soilsm and vegetation.
Why are Wetlands Important?
Wetlands are habatiats and breeding grounds for many diferent species of animals, can stop flooding, gives water nutrients, and can help purify water.
Protecting the Wetlands
There are many ways that we can all help to protect the world precious Wetlands:
- Encourage Neighbors to help protect wetlands.
- Instead of draining or filling wetlands, find more compatible uses, such as waterowl and will life habitat.
- When developing your landscaping plan, keep wetlands in min. Plant native grasses or forested buffer strips along wetlands on our property to protect water quality.
- Participate in a volunteer wetland monitioring program.
- Mainain welands and adjacent buffer strips as open space.
- Support your local watershed association.
- Plan a wetland program or invite a wetland expert to speak at your school, lub, youth group, or professional organization.
- You can even build your wetland in your own backyard
Bog turtles
Bog turtles are native to the Eastern United States ranging from Georgia to the lower New England states. These animals environments have some very specific requirements for the species to survive and thrive in an area. Most common areas to find these turtles are in open wet meadows, shallow water marshes, spring seeps, flood plain wetlands, bogs, and fens. Many people take bog turtles from the natural habitat and keep them as a pet which is one of the main reasons these creature are becoming extinct today and with how low the natural populations are already they cannot withstand even a few of them being taken. nonnative plant species are also harming the bog turtle populations, the simple reed plant can restrict bog turtle movement and block areas from sunlight where plants the turtles can eat grow. People can easily save the bog turtles by simply keeping them in their natural habitats and protecting wetlands.
Works Cited
- Wetlands Importance. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. <http://www.mbgnet.net/
fresh/wetlands/why.htm>. - EPA. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. <http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/
wetlands/definitions.cfm>. - Line, Les. "Fast Decline of a Slow Species." SIRS Issues Researcher. N.p., n.d.
Web. 12 Apr. 2013. <http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/
hst-article-display?id=SPL2699-0-1263&artno=0000021901&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=sa
ving%20bog%20turtles&title=Fast%20Decline%20of%20Slow%20Species&res=Y&ren=N&gov=N
&lnk=N&ic=N>.