In praise of bogs, swamps, and marshes

bogs, swamps, and marshes, all wetlands.

 Swamps and bogs probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think of America’s celebrated landscapes. That’s a shame, since wetlands like these play a crucial role in the health of our ecosystems. In addition to providing unique habitat to the many species that call wetlands home, they filter water, provide a natural buffer from storms, absorb flood waters, and capture carbon from the atmosphere—all of which help to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Each year in the month of May, environmental groups and partners celebrate the humble bog as part of American Wetlands Month. You can find some of the country’s healthiest examples of wetlands in Florida, including swamps, which are dominated by forests, and marshes, which are home to grasses, rushes, and weeds. Today’s homepage photo comes from Pine Log State Forest, located near the town of Ebro in the Florida Panhandle. Established in 1936, it’s Florida’s oldest state forest, and a fine place to explore.

 

 

(1/3) What’s the difference between a marsh and a swamp?

 

AThey’re located on different continents

BMarshes are murkier

CSwamps are forested

 

C: Swamps, bogs, marshes, and fens are all types of wetlands, but they’re all subtly different from each other. While a swamp is a wetland that’s forested, a marsh is home to herbaceous plants such as grasses, rushes, or weeds. Some of our country’s healthiest wetlands are found in Florida, which is where our homepage photo comes from. We’re showing Pine Log State Forest in honor of American Wetlands Month.

(2/3) Wetlands are found on every continent except for which one?

 

AAustralia

BAsia

CAntarctica

 

C: While American Wetlands Month highlights US landscapes, wetlands can be found in many places around the world. In addition to providing unique habitat, they filter water, provide a natural buffer from storms, absorb flood waters, and capture carbon from the atmosphere—all of which help to mitigate the impact of climate change.

(3/3) What causes mysterious lights to appear over wetlands from time to time?

 

AInsects

BGas

CGhosts

 

B: In folklore, this phenomenon was known as a will-o’-the-wisp, an apparition that was said to mislead travelers by imitating a lantern. These days, it’s just called marsh gas. It’s caused by the oxidation of phosphine, diphosphane, and methane, which occurs as organic material decays.

 

 

In praise of bogs, swamps, and marshes

Swamps and bogs probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think of America’s celebrated landscapes. That’s a shame, since wetlands like these play a crucial role in the health of our ecosystems. In addition to providing unique habitat to the many species that call wetlands home, they filter water, provide a natural buffer from storms, absorb flood waters, and capture carbon from the atmosphere—all of which help to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Each year in the month of May, environmental groups and partners celebrate the humble bog as part of American Wetlands Month. You can find some of the country’s healthiest examples of wetlands in Florida, including swamps, which are dominated by forests, and marshes, which are home to grasses, rushes, and weeds. Today’s homepage photo comes from Pine Log State Forest, located near the town of Ebro in the Florida Panhandle. Established in 1936, it’s Florida’s oldest state forest, and a fine place to explore.