Wetlands: Review

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

You have learned so much about wetlands in this series!

Let's review what you have learned. (If you want a more thorough review, check out the Related Lessons in the right-hand sidebar.)

There are four major types of wetlands: marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens.

Marshes

• The ground is covered by water most of the year.
• Soft-stemmed plants can be found here.
• Tidal salt marshes are found on coastlines.
• Tidal freshwater marshes are found inland from coastlines.
• Inland marshes are found by lakes and rivers.
• Plants such as grasses, reeds, bulrushes, lily pads, and sedges are found here.
• Crustaceans, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals can be found here.
• Crocodiles and hippopotamuses can be found in marshes.

Swamps

• The ground stays wet all year round.
• Freshwater swamps are found around lakes and streams.
• Saltwater swamps are found around tropical coastlines.
• Mosses, ferns, trees, lilies, and shrubs can be found in swamps.
• Crustaceans, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals can be found here.
• Alligators are commonly found in swamps.

Bogs

• Bogs are found in cooler climates around freshwater lakes.
• Bogs are generally completely covered in decaying plant matter called peat.
• Moss, heather, fungus, and shrubs can be found growing here.
• Insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals can be found here.

Fens

• Fens do not get their water from rainfall.
• Fens get water from runoff and groundwater.
• Fens have some peat on the surface. If the peat completely covers the surface, it will become a bog.
• Fens have flowing water all year round.
• Grasses, wildflowers, sedges, and rushes are found here.
• Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds live here.

Great! You completed the short review of wetlands. Move on to the next section to continue reviewing.