Wetlands

Aim: To learn about the wetland ecosystem.

What is a Wetland?

Any land consisting of marshes or swamps and land that is saturated with water.                                                                

4 different kinds of wetlands

1. Marsh - wetland that is dominated by plants.
2. Swamp - an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects.
3. Bog - an area of wet muddy ground is very soft.
4. Mire / fen - a stretch of swampy or boggy ground.

Common wetland plants in NZ

Name	Image	Purpose
EG: Swamp weed		Food for fish and birds Home for fish and birds Cleans the water
Bullrush		Ducks make nest out of them and fish hide under them and use them for food.
Harakeke
Raupo		Ducks make nest out of them and fish hide under them and use them for food.
Toitoi

Common animals, insects, birds you may find in a NZ wetland.

Name	Image	Food
Duck		natural insects, mollusks, seeds, grains, and plants Cracked corn.
Frog		insects flies, mosquitoes, moths and dragonflies.
Butterfly		Butterflies can eat anything that can dissolve in water. They mostly feed on nectar from flowers but also eat tree sap, dung, pollen, or rotting fruit. They are attracted to sodium found in salt and sweat. This is why they sometimes even land on people in Butterfly Parks. Sodium as well as many other minerals is vital for the butterflies reproduction.
Grey Heron		Herons are predators; hunting for fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects and small mammals. They are also opportunistic which means they are very unlikely to pass up the chance of an easy meal. You may also be surprised at some of the other prey we have seen herons take here at Montrose.
Dragonfly		mosquitoes
Fish		There are several types of food for the aquarium fish - live food such as worms and shrimp, frozen food and pre-packaged foods. Prepackaged foods are produced in different forms - flakes, granules or pellets. Each type is designed to suit feeding habits of different kinds of fish.

Ecosystems.

Definition: An ecosystem is a large community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in a particular area.

Food chain:

Create your own food chain from the Kyle park wetlands below. Use the food chain above as an example.

Food  Webs:

Definition: A food web is similar to a food chain but larger. A food web uses arrows to show the energy relationships among organisms. Food webs show how plants and animals are connected in many ways.

Create your own food web of Kyle Park using:

Algae

Dragonfly

Tadpole

Frog

Fish

Grey Heron