Ecology and Vulnerability

Freshwater wetlands

Freshwater wetlands account for about 95% of all wetlands in the US and are prevalent across the Northeastern U.S. . Wetlands are habitats where water is present at or near the soil surface for at least part of the growing season. They typically occur in areas of relatively low, flat topography and are saturated or inundated by water long enough to cause anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions in the upper part of the soil. Because of these conditions, decomposition is slowed allowing more carbon to be stored in the soil. Across the US, freshwater wetlands store about 10x as much carbon as tidal coastal wetlands, partially due to their acreage. 

Wetlands are incredibly productive – often referred to as “nurseries of life” – and provide food and habitat for many wildlife species to use throughout their life cycles. Freshwater wetlands also act as sponges, trapping and slowing the release of rain, snowmelt, and flood waters thus protecting nearby areas from flooding and slowing the process of erosion. In addition, freshwater wetlands recharge groundwater (including our drinking sources), reduce contaminants and excess nutrients, and generally improve water quality. 

Regional and local variation in soil, typography, hydrology, climate, and water chemistry all impact the distribution of freshwater wetlands. In the the Northeastern U.S., there are vernal pools, bogs, fens, wet meadows, marshes, shrub swamps, floodplain forests, and other types of forested wetlands. 

Since 2009, the rate of wetland loss in the country has increased by over 50%, and is likely to continue to accelerate partially due to human development and agriculture expansion, but also because of climate change (especially due to changes in precipitation and temperature). Understanding the impacts of climate change on our freshwater wetlands will help us to better protect them, the species that inhabit them, and the many ecosystem benefits they provide.