Wetland Ecology

Exploring wetlands

Do you know what a wetland is? Do you know why they are important? If you said no, then you are in the right place. Our Wetland Ecology activities will help you learn about the role that wetlands play in providing habitat for animals and protecting the environment. Check out the resources below to help you identify some of the animals that call the wetlands of the Summit Bechtel Reserve home.

Wetlands are important because they provide habitat to many different creatures. Certain species of mammals, bird, amphibians, reptiles, fish and insects use wetlands for all or part of their habitat requirements. They also provide many ecosystem services to humans as well. Can you think of a few ways that wetlands help humans and the environment?

Merit badge correlations:

Nature
Bird Study
Fish and Wildlife Management
Reptile and Amphibian Management

Wetland Species Pictures

Canada Goose.
(Photo credit: Dick Daniels via Wikimedia Commons)

Barn Swallow.
(Photo credit: JJ Cadiz, Cajay via Wikimedia Commons)

Killdeer.
(Photo credit: M.L Haen via Wikimedia Commons)

Great Blue Heron.
(Photo Credit: Michael L. Baird via Wikimedia Commons)

Belted Kingfisher.
(Photo Credit: Teddy Llovet via Wikimedia Commons)

Mallard.
(Photo credit: Dcoetzee via Wikimedia Commons)

Spring Peeper.
(Photo credit: Fungus Guy via Wikimedia Commons)

American Bullfrog.
(Photo credit: MONGO via Wikimedia Commons)

Northern Green Frog.
(Photo credit: Katja Schulz via Wikimedia Commons)

Pickerel Frog.
(Photo credit: Sam Hopewell via Wikimedia Commons)

Fowler’s Toad.
(Photo credit: Perlick Laura via Wikimedia Commons)

Wood Frog.
Lithobates sylvaticus.
(Photo credit Gary Eslinger/USFWS via Wikimedia Commons)

Northern Leopard Frog.
Lithobates pipiens.
(Photo credit Douglas Wilhelm Harder via Wikimedia Commons)

Gray Treefrog.
Dryophytes versicolor.
(Photo credit Zachary Cava via Wikimedia Commons)

Eastern Spadefoot.
Scaphiopus holbrookii.
(Photo credit Timdwilliamson via Wikimedia Commons)