Article Summary & Discussion Preparation Log Part I: Individual Assignment Article Title: Wetlands Author/Source: Jon A.

Kusler, William J. Mitsch and Joseph S. Larson/ Scientific American A: List the major ideas, concepts or key points- point by point: Nature protean Shallow, water-fed systems Many plants and animals need wetlands Moderate climatic change by sink for carbon dioxide Lots of resources Limits damage. Natures kidneys. Destruction and reduction of wetlands continue today, from starting of 1950s Can be attributed to same feature Floodwater is absorb by wetlands Hydrophytes and hydric soils adapt to flooding Exist next to freshwater Fluctuation can be altered by humans and animals Many mistunderstandings of wetlands

 Sensitivity depends on water-level changes Many different animals vary on wetlands because of different changes to wetlands Wetlands can cleanse water if connected to other bodies of water High and sometimes low amounts of chemicals, nutrients, and pesticides from developments alter wetlands HR 1330 sees wetlands as static systems

B: Summarize the AUTHORs main point or idea- at LEAST 1-2 paragraphs Wetlands play a crucial role in many animals life. Wetlands are shallow, water-fed systems that are usually filled with plants and animals. Wetlands can be dry, wet, large, small, or anything between. Since there is an a growing problem of developments on wetlands, these changes bring problems to developments and ecosystem. Wetlands offer a shelter for floodwater, and the buildings/developments on theses wetlands are destroyed because of their location. There is talk about monitoring and changing the wetlands to make them a better fit for some developments, but wetlands have their ever changing nature. In order for the public and the world to change wetlands, they must see the role of properties of wetlands.

Once they are able to recognize those roles, the public will be able to live with these wetlands and protect them. C: Write a reaction paragraph to the article stating your own thoughts on the topic, using specific citations from the article to support your views.: From reading this article, I understand more of wetlands and their roles. Understanding how wetlands work is important because they are necessary for humans, plants, and animals. It now makes sense on how the floodwater destroys homes in the mid-west. Wetlands are a sink for floodwaters, and storms are needed for the removal of organic matter and sediments. The media often has a bad view about storms and floods, focusing on the destroyed buildings. This tricks us, the public, into thinking that floods and storms are destroyers, when they are actually great for wetlands. The more people who know the real background and information of wetlands, the more we are able to acknowledge our problem and fix it. So What? Wetlands are important even though they each have many differences. They provide a healthy and safe ecosystem, and help store flood/storm water. What if? What if nine million acres of wetlands were still in the US? Says Who? The authors and their various sources.

What Does This Remind Me Of? This reminds me of the carbonic acid from the ocean acidification lab. Most people are mislead when they hear there is less carbon in the air, just as the buildings destroyed from floodwaters are bad.