Wetlands

Wetlands

Aim: To learn about the wetland ecosystem.

                                                                         

What is a Wetland?

Any land consisting of marshes or swamps and land that is saturated with water.                                                                

4 different kinds of wetlands

1. Marsh - a wetland that is dominated by plants.
2. Swamp - an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects.
3. Bog - an area of wet muddy ground is very soft.
4. Mire / fen - a stretch of swampy or boggy ground.

Common wetland plants in NZ

Name	Image	Purpose
EG: Swamp weed		Food for fish and birds Home for fish and birds Cleans the water
Bulrush		1. Can be made for flour, syrup and sugar. 2. Can act as a filter 3. Can be used to make weaves, baskets, chair seats. etc.
Harakeke		1. Can treat boils, burns etc. 2. Produced rope and linen.
Raupo		Raupo and bulrush are the same. They both have the same purposes. 1. Can be made for flour, syrup and sugar. 2. Can act as a filter 3. Can be used to make weaves, baskets, chair seats. etc.
Toitoi		1. Can be used to make baskets, kites, mats, wall linings and roof thatching. 2. It can also be used to make containers to cook food in hot springs. 3. The seed heads were used on flesh wounds to stop bleeding.

Common animals, insects, birds you may find in a NZ wetland.

Name	Image	Food
Duck		Insects Seeds Plants
Frog		1. Insects 2. Meat
Butterfly		1. Nectar from flowers 2. Tree sap 3. Pollen
Grey Heron		1. Fish 2. Amphibians 3. Reptiles
Dragonfly		1. Mosquitoes 2. Moths 3. Midges
Fish		1. Larvae 2. Other fishes