Wetlands are areas of land that are saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. They play a crucial role in maintaining water quality, providing habitat for diverse species, and mitigating floods. Mangroves are a type of wetland characterized by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that grow along coastlines.
Imagine wetlands as nature's sponges. Just like how a sponge absorbs and filters water, wetlands absorb excess water and filter out pollutants before they reach other bodies of water.
Estuary: An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water where freshwater from rivers mixes with salty seawater.
Marshes: Marshes are wetlands characterized by grassy vegetation and shallow standing water.
Swamps: Swamps are wetlands dominated by trees or shrubs rather than grasses.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.