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Values and Functions of Wetlands
Wetlands Support Many Species
Wetlands produce great volumes of food as leaves and stems break
down in the water; this enriched material is called detritus.
Detritus is food for insects, shellfish, and forage fish, and it
provides nutrients for wetlands plants and algae.
Recreational fish such as bluefish and striped bass, as well as
mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, eat aquatic invertebrates
and forage fish. Wetlands plants provide shelter and food to
diverse species.
Ecological Benefits
Wetlands are among the most biologically productive natural ecosystems
in the world. They can be compared to tropical rain forests and coral
reefs in the diversity of species they support.
Wetlands are vital to the survival of various animals and plants,
including threatened and endangered species like the wood stork, Florida
panther, and whooping crane. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates
that up to 43% of the threatened and endangered species rely directly or
indirectly on wetlands for their survival. For many other species, such as
the wood duck, muskrat, and swamp rose, wetlands are primary habitats. For
others, wetlands provide important seasonal habitats where food, water,
and cover are plentiful.
Wetlands and People
Because wetlands are so productive and because they greatly influence the
flow and quality of water, they are valuable to us.
Wetlands furnish a wealth of natural products, including fish, timber,
wild rice, and furs. For example, in the Southeast, 96% of0 the commercial
catch and over 50% of the recreational harvest are fish and shellfish that
depend on the estuary-coastal wetlands system. Waterfowl hunters spend
over $600 million annually in pursuit of wetlands-dependent birds.
Wetlands often function like natural tubs or sponges, storing water
(floodwater, or surface water that collects in isolated depressions) and
slowly releasing it. Trees and other wetland vegetation help slow
floodwaters. This combined action, storage and slowing, can lower flood
heights and reduce the water's erosive potential.
Wetlands provide opportunities for popular activities such as hiking,
fishing, and boating. For example, an estimated 50 million people spend
approximately $10 billion each year observing and photographing
wetlands-dependent birds.
Wetlands thus -
Wetlands help improve water quality, including that of drinking water, by
intercepting surface runoff and removing or retaining its nutrients,
processing organic wastes, and reducing sediment before it reaches open
water.
Link to More Information on the Values and Functions of Wetlands on EPA's Website
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