Between the towering mountains of the High Peaks and the rapids of the Hudson River, the Adirondacks have a wide array of ecological communities within the blue line. Many of these are annually visited by tourists and outdoorsy folk alike. Either hiking the secluded paths or looking for elusive birds, people are drawn to the pristine environment that has been nurtured in the past century in the Adirondacks. However, one general area that most people, myself included, tend to steer clear from are wetlands. Tromping through mud and reeds never appeals to anyone, and even paddlers find it difficult to navigate through the maze of shrub brush so iconic of wetlands.
However, it is incredible how important wetlands are for the health of surrounding ecosystems. They provide immeasurable ecosystem services, evident either in the purity of the water or the abundance flora and fauna. The flat topography and muddy soils slow down water, filtering it in the process. The habitat as a hole also acts as a carbon sink, fixing the organic molecule into the soil in order to save it for later plant use. The roots of plants along the waters edge oxygenates the water, providing a stable habitat for aquatic animals. Similarly, these areas provide a safe area for many young animals to develop into adults, away from bigger predators and more severe environmental factors, such as wave action or lack of dissolved oxygen in the water. Wetlands, especially in the Adirondacks, support a wide range of biodiversity, purify the water, and incorporate nutrients into the ecosystem.
Of the many types of wetlands, only marshes, bogs, fens and swamps are found within the park. These are each characteristically different depending on the soil drainage, water availability, and ecology of the site. Not only are marshes the wettest of the four wetlands, they are also the most biologically productive due to the abundance of nutrients and oxygen. They experience an annual presence of water. On the other hand, bogs and fens are more heavily vegetated, mainly growing out of a layer of peat, and rely on seasonal water input. While fens are rich in nutrients, bogs are acidic and nutrient-poor. Swamps grow in wooded areas in usually waterlogged soil that rarely floods.
Growing up as an environmentally-minded youngster in the Chesapeake Bay, the significance of wetlands was drilled into my head from an early age. While they may be a pain to hike through, and are often not as aesthetically pleasing as the summit of a mountain, wetlands play a huge role in nurturing plants and animals as well as keeping the ecosystem free of pollutants. The presence of these habitats within the Adirondacks is key to the continuation of the park's "forever wild" motto and the pristine environment that comes with it.
Sources:
Adirondack Park Agency: Natural Communities of the Adirondack Park:
http://apa.ny.gov/about_park/natural_commun.htm
Paul Smith's College: Adirondack Wetlands:
http://www.adirondackvic.org/Adirondack-Wetlands.html
I'm glad that you wrote about the ecological importance of wetlands! For me, at least, it's easy to forget that wetlands exist because I'm not around them very often. However, reading about them these past few days has peaked my curiosity. Because they aren't very appealing to the average person, they're commonly left alone. We've been talking a lot about the influence of humans on the Adirondacks, so learning about something that humans haven't physically impacted was interesting. Even though the human race is affecting the Adirondacks as a whole—through climate change, etc.—nobody really sets out to develop wetlands or exploit them for resources. They aren't stable enough to support buildings, they're not preferable for recreation, and they don't have any resources to take. Being able to focus on wetlands as an important part of the environment was refreshing, and I enjoyed focusing on the science behind them.
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