Graver Arboretum

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Wetland Ecology

Students research wetland plants and present their information to the class.  
They learn the ecological services provided by wetlands and the factors that determine wetland boundaries.  Wetland conservation is also covered. 

Grades: 8-12

Time Needed: 3 hours + research time before the field study

Muhlenberg College Wetland Ecology Module/Unit (PDF File - 4.4 MB)

Lehigh Valley Watershed Module/Unit - by Therese Ehrenreich, Whitehall High School
(PDF File 3.83 MB)

Sample Watershed Brochure (PDF File, .5 MB - For classroom use only)

LESSON 1- Wetland Metaphors

Web sites for the teacher:

Association of State Wetland Managers.
 http://www.aswm.org/lwp/nys/section1.htm

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Wetlands - http://epa.gov/owow/wetlands
The Functions of Wetlands - http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/functions.html

LESSON 2 - Living Labels- Wetland Plants

Web sites for the teachers and students:

Boundary Waters Compendium- Aquatic Plants of the North
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/aquatics/index.html

Connecticut Botanical Society
http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/index.html

Graver Arboretum Facultative Wetland Plants Page
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/cultural/graver/Collections/WetlandPlants/FacultativeHm.htm

Graver Arboretum Obligate Wetland Plants Page
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/cultural/graver/Collections/WetlandPlants/ObligateHm.htm

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center- Native Plant Information Network
http://www.wildflower2.org/NPIN/Gallery/Gallery.html

Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening Plantfinder
 http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/serviceplantfinder.shtml

NatureServe Explorer- Online Encyclopedia of Life
http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/index.htm

North Carolina State University- Marginal Aquatics
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/
water-garden/marginalaq/common_name.html

Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry- Common Trees of Pennsylvania
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/commontr/

Plant Conservation Alliance- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping in Maryland
http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/nativesMD/lists.htm
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/nativesMD/piedmont/piedmont-wetlist.htm

Plant Conservation Alliance- Plant Invaders of the Mid-Atlantic
http://nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/toc.htm

Plants for a Future- Online Database
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/D_search.html

Purdue University Center for New Crop and Plant Products- Crop Search
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/SearchEngine.html

University of Main Cooperative Extension- Native Plant Recommendations
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/commonplants.htm

University of Pennsylvania- PA Flora Project
http://www.paflora.org/Search.html

US Geological Survey- Northeast Wetland Flora
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1999/neflor/list.htm

Virginia Natural Heritage Program- Native Plant Tables
http://www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/native.htm

Washington Natural Heritage Program- Field Guide to Selected Rare Plants of Washington
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/htm/fgmain.htm

Wellesly College- Web of Species
http://www.wellesley.edu/Biology/Web/Directory/directory_a.html

LESSON 3  - Wetland Vegetation Survey

Web sites for the teacher and students:

West Coast (of British Colombia) Environmental Law, Selected Wetland Glossary
http://www.wcel.org/wcelpub/1996/11580/11580_glos.html

LESSON 4- Wetland Soils

Web sites for the teacher:

NOAA/Forecast Systems Laboratory.  Globe, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Planet.
http://www.globe.gov

US Forest Service.  Investigating Your Environment
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/ce/iye/contents.htm

Web sites for the students:

University of Illinois Extension.  Four Major Components of Soil.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case2/facts.html

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Soil Science Education Homepage
http://soils.gsfc.nasa.gov/

LESSON 5  - Wetland Hydrology

Web sites for the teacher and students:

Please see Lesson 3

LESSON 6- Wetland Topography

Web sites for the teacher:

Kid's Gardening - Let it Flow.
http://www.kidsgardening.com/TMI/images/pdfs/5cra.pdf

US Geological Survey Learning Web.  What Do Maps Show?
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow.htm