Plants and Wildlife
Plants and Wildlife
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Plants
Overall, 311 changes to the plant list have been proposed with an almost even (51% wetter /49% drier)0 split between plants receiving a wetter rating and plants receiving a drier rating. These ratings are very important as a plants presence combined with soil characteristics and water regimes paints a picture if an area is determined to be an upland or wetland.
The comment period ends on November 13, 2015 and the Federal Register is available here to read. Beyond the list is an article by the National Wetlands Newsletter on how the list and ranking system has changed and matured over the years.
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Wildlife
Woodpeckers and Weasels
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Wildlife
The life of a tree in a wetland is never easy, frequently changing water levels and limited soil oxygen will kill all but the hardiest or best adapted tree. Frequently, trees on a wetland border, which are not particularly suited for wetland life die, but still play a surprising role in wetland ecology.Why are snags the zombies of wetland? - Despite being dead, they still teem with life!
The life of a tree in a wetland is never easy, frequently changing water levels and limited soil oxygen will kill all but the hardiest or best adapted tree. Frequently, trees on a wetland border, which are not particularly suited for wetland life die, but still play a surprising role in wetland ecology.
Over time, the dead trees, or snags, become homes for myriad insects from termites to ants, attracting woodpeckers. The Pileated woodpecker is one of first that come to mind; the powerful bird makes a distinctive rectangular and deep cavity during their search for insects, as seen in the photo I took this summer, below. Pileated woodpecker holes can be a food long and half as deep. After ferreting out all the available insects, the woodpecker will abandon the hole for others to use as shelter; it is estimated there are more than 30 species that rely on snags for shelter or food, including flickers and brown creepers which shelter in the holes or bark of snags. Pileated woodpeckers also nest in snags, the nest construction usually takes 3-6 weeks, and ranges between 10-24 inches deep.
Bats, and other small animals also use the peeling bark for shelter, and hollow snags are used by larger creatures ranging from owls, raccoons and even bears for protection from the elements.
Submerged snags are no less valuable, the limbs and trunks are less visible, but are utilized by fish and amphibians for shelter, concealment and spawning.
Sources and Further Reading:
Snags for Wildlife
SPECIALIZED HABITAT CONSIDERATIONS FOR NONGAME BIRDS -SNAG MANAGEMENT Keith E. Evans and Richard N,Conner
DeGraaf, R. 1978. New life from dead trees. Natl. Wild. 16(4):28-31
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Subcategories
Wetland Plants
A section about Wetland plants and their unique features.
Wetland Wildlife
A section about Wildlife found in wetlands.
Wetlands in the News
28 April 2024
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One goal of the $500K wetlands project is to curb the flooding of the Killbuck Creek
Benefits of H2Ohio project include harnessing the power of the regular flooding of the Killbuck Creek into feeding the wetlands.
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DeWine, ODNR, Intel partner for $1 million Dillon wetlands restoration in Muskingum County
Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Intel announced Thursday a $1 million Dillon Wetland Restoration project on 92 acres.
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Volunteers needed for Great Gwinnett Wetlands event
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources are requesting volunteers for the 10th Annual Great Gwinnett Wetlands event on May 4.
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Streams that supply drinking water in danger following 2023 Supreme Court decision that stripped wetlands protections: Report
A Supreme Court decision that stripped protections from America's wetlands will have reverberating impacts on rivers that supply drinking water all over the U.S.
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Louisiana federal refuges, state wildlife areas get $3.9 million to restore wetlands, forests
Nature-based improvements to forests and wetlands in seven national wildlife refuge complexes and five state wildlife management areas in Louisiana will be funded with more than $3.9 million of federa...