Wetlands

What is a simple definition of a wetland?

• low lying lands with spongy soil that are wet all the  time every year
• low lying lands with spongy soil that are wet for a certain time every year
• high lands with spongy soil that are wet for a certain time every year
• low lying lands with moist soil that are wet all the  time every year

Which type of wetland is best described as, "The plants growing here are grasses, reeds, sedges, and some shrubs."

• bogs
• fens
• swamps
• marsh

Which type of wetland would be best described as "usually characterized by the growth of woody plants such as cypress and tupelo trees. "​ 

• bogs
• fens
• swamp
• marsh

This is a wetland marsh composed of a mixture of both salt and freshwater (brackish water). 

• estuary
• fen
• bog
• river

These are the three main jobs of wetlands.

• provide habitats, store flood waters, purify water
• provide habitats, store plant life, purify water
• purify water, store wildlife, provide habitats
• purify the land, store flood waters, provide habitats

Wetlands store flood waters. How is this beneficial? Choose the best answer.

• Its not really beneficial because this may flood peoples homes.
• It releases the water is increments which will really increase the wildlife in that area.
• It releases the water is increments which slows the water down thus slowing erosion.
• Its really not beneficial because this will flood the habitats of the wildlife living there.

Which description below best describes how wetlands purify water?

• Wetlands slow down the water flow when the water encounters the vegetation. This allows the sediments and pollutants to drop out of the water before the water moves on.
• Wetlands don't really purify the water. They just slow it down and the heat from the Sun makes it hot enough to purify the water before it moves on.
• Wetlands slow down the water flow so that sediments and pollutants can drop out of the water before it moves on.
• Wetlands can't really purify the water because they release the water in large increments which doesn't allow enough time for it to be cleaned.

Which statement below best compares and contrast natural levees and man-made levees in relation to their effect on wetlands?

• The man-made levees hurt the wetlands by not allowing the river to ever flood or change course to replenish the wetlands with sediments. The natural levees do allow it to replenish the wetlands.
• Both type of levees can hold back flood waters. But, the man-made levees cost a lot to build and maintain where the natural levees build and maintain themselves.
• They both help hold back flood waters. However, man-made levees will allow the river to replenish the wetlands and the natural levees do not.
• Both type of levees can hold back flood waters. But, the man-made levees hurt the wetlands by not allowing the river to ever flood or change course to replenish the wetlands with sediments. The natural levees do allow it to replenish the wetlands.

At the rate of land loss present today, Louisiana stands to lose ​__________ of its coast by the year _________. 

• 1/2, 2050
• 1/3, 2050
• 1/2, 2045
• 1/3, 2045

This is how much wetlands is needed to absorb one foot of storm surge from a hurricane.

• 1.5 miles
• 2.0 miles
• 2.5 miles
• 2.7 miles