Picture a grassy field flooded during spring rains, but the water is still there months after the event, and the are has exploded with life. What I just described here is a wetland, more specifically a wet meadow. Now, most of you have probably driven past something similar to this and never knew it; others may have been on the lookout for any wildlife moving about. There are two general types of wetlands that are: Coastal/Tidal and Inland/Non-tidal. We'll be talking about the latter here today, but that doesn't mean coastal wetlands aren't important ecosystems!
A high-altitude wet meadow (marsh type) from western Montana. *Definitely Bigfoot's bathtub there!*
Inland/non-tidal wetlands can be categorized into four types which are: Marshes, Swamps, Bogs, and Fens. Each of these can then be classified further, but for now, let's focus on the big picture. The US EPA defines wetlands as, "areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods during the year, including during the growing season." Most inland types are shallow and have some form of vegetation growing within or around them. All wetlands, no matter how big or small are full of biodiversity and provide multiple services that help us humans out.
A Giant Water Bug (Belostomatidae, left), American Bullfrog tadpoles, and other various inhabitants collected from a vernal pool (marsh type) in Indiana.
Wetlands can almost be thought of as the super kidneys for our environment; as water flows in, whether from upstream or direct runoff, it is collected and stored there. The storage process allows for the water to naturally filter before entering a stream or recharging the groundwater supply. This provides a major service to us, as wetlands help to lower major flood events downstream.
Aside from cleaning, slowing, and storing water, our wetlands serve as major habitat systems for various plants and wildlife. Most amphibians within the Midwest (and surrounding states) require wetlands to breed. A combination of warming temperatures and spring rains will trigger a mass migration of frogs and salamanders towards marshes, swamps, and vernal pools to mate and lay eggs. Certain fish species utilize flood events to find new hunting grounds and spawning habitats. Migratory birds will use wetlands either as lay-over sites or mating grounds. Insects, like the beloved Dragon- and Damselflies, reside within these areas for their entire life-cycles. Some of the rarest plants in North America are only found within specific types of wetlands like, bogs or fens.
Small-Mouthed (left) and Blue-Spotted (right) Salamanders found in the woods surrounding a nearby vernal pool in northeastern Indiana.
Historically speaking, wetlands are probably the most mistreated and misunderstood habitat type we have come across. Since around the 16th Century, the heart of European contact, the United States has lost roughly half of its original wetlands. To put that into perspective, it would be like erasing the combined land area of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio off the map. As the US settled and land claims were made, the farmers discovered just how fertile the soils beneath a wetland were. This lead to massive operations of removing nearly all the habitat and laying drain tile. These actions diverted the water to nearby rivers and streams to effectively drain the land and access new fields.
Within the Midwest, the removal of wetlands was due to increased agriculture and urban sprawl. Two of the most noteworthy examples are: the Kankakee Grand Marsh and the Great Black Swamp. The Kankakee Grand Marsh sat within the northwest corner of Indiana and stretched from near South Bend towards the Illinois-Indiana border. The Great Black Swamp was nestled in northwest Ohio and reached from northeast Indiana up to Lake Erie. Historically, each area covered roughly 1,500 square miles (that's nearly 2 million acres)! Now the Grand Marsh only covers 1,952 acres, a measly 0.2% of the historic range. Remnants of the Great Black Swamp are scattered over NW Ohio, covering about 17,600 acres or a whole 1.8% of the previous habitat.
A section of Lower Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area near Killbuck, OH days after a high-water event.
The inspiration for this article came from what is currently happening within Indiana. Around the start of 2021, Indiana Senate Bill 389 was introduced to repeal wetland regulatory laws inside the state. If the bill passes, then builders and contractors (or anyone really) can bypass the regulations for state-controlled wetlands. These comprise roughly 80% of Indiana's remaining wetlands. If you are an Indiana resident and care about our state's fragile habitats I highly suggest you contact your representative to halt this bill!
No matter how you choose to utilize our wild areas, make sure you continually enjoy, protect, and enhance our freshwater habitats!
Thanks for the great article. It was very informative and the pictures are beautiful. :)