We’ve mentioned wetlands as an important habitat, but let’s take the time to fully define these environments, and understand what makes wetlands an asset to us and to many other species.
 |
Source: http://web.uvic.ca/~wetlands/Wetlands.jpg |
Wetlands cover about 33% of the land in Ontario, and may include such places as marshes and swamps, which are environments containing a hybrid of both water and land17. Wetlands provide a number of important services not only to the natural environment and species that depend on them, but to us as humans. These environments provide a natural way to control water quality, because they slow down the flow of water from rivers and streams and allow particles to settle out18. This slowing also protects the surrounding land from erosion19. Finally, wetlands can also aid in flood control18. This is particularly important in this region of the world when we take into account the annual amount water and flooding which occurs after snowmelt in the spring season. Wetlands are also important stopover sites for migratory birds, providing a basin for these animals to refuel and rest during their long migrations20. Finally, these environments provide an important breeding site for many different species who utilize its rich biodiversity during the breeding season19. Unfortunately, despite all the obvious benefits that wetland habitats bring, nearly 90% of the wetland habitats have been destroyed in Ontario as a result of urbanization, development and agriculture17. This destruction has drastic impacts on species that live in these regions, such as the Great Blue Heron. In our next post, we’ll look into the damages that human impacts have on wetlands, and what you as a cottager in these environments can do to help!
Check out these websites to find out more about wetland conservation:
Keep reading to find out how you can protect the wetlands and Great Blue Heron habitat!
