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Wilting diminishes the plant's ability to transpireļ¼reproduce and grow. Permanent wilting leads to the plant dying. Symptoms of wilting and blights resemble one another. The plants may recover during the night when evaporation is reduced as the stomata closes. [2] In woody plants, reduced water availability leads to cavitation of the xylem.
Wetlands make up about 5-8% of Earth's terrestrial land surface but contain about 20-30% of the planet's 2500 Gt soil carbon stores. [49] Peatlands contain the highest amounts of soil organic carbon of all wetland types. [50] Wetlands can become sources of carbon, rather than sinks, as the decomposition occurring within the ecosystem emits ...
the most widespread of all wetland types in the world, representing 50 to 70% of global wetlands. They cover over 4 million square kilometres [1.5 million square miles] or 3% of the land and freshwater surface of the planet. In these ecosystems are found one third of the world's soil carbon and 10% of global freshwater resources.
The group consists of numerous unrelated plants that have convergently evolved. Sometimes, the widely distributed genus Rhizophora is referred to as the true mangroves. Pistia, a genus with one species that is native to tropical environments and has further extended its range as an introduced species. Phragmites is a genus of plants known as reeds.
Wetlands exist on every continent, except Antarctica. [19] The water in wetlands is either freshwater, brackish or saltwater. [18] The main types of wetland are defined based on the dominant plants and the source of the water. For example, marshes are wetlands dominated by emergent herbaceous vegetation such as reeds, cattails and sedges.
Wetland restoration, or bringing back the wetland and its functions, [24] is an important step in conservation of freshwater marshes. Restoration can take two forms, re-establishment or rehabilitation. [24] One common way freshwater marshes are restored is restoration of channelized rivers. [23]
In ecology, a marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than by woody plants. [1] More in general, the word can be used for any low-lying and seasonally waterlogged terrain. In Europe and in agricultural literature low-lying meadows that require draining and embanked polderlands are also referred to as marshes or marshland.
Additionally, these plants provide a large habitat for many wetland species, a large number of which are endangered or threatened. Lastly, riparian plants shade the water from sunlight, reducing the heat stress on the water and aquatic life, while also providing nutrients in the form of organic matter.