Observe: Types of Wetlands

Carrs, marshes, swamps, and peatlands (bogs and fens).  Each word indicates a type of wetland with distinctive features.  In this activity, you will learn about several things:
  • The characteristics of wetlands
  • The types of wetlands that exist in various ecosystems
  • Similarities and differences among types of wetlands
  • Wetlands that contain sphagnum moss and form peat
  • Water issues – precipitation, groundwater, and saturation amounts

All these ecosystems are included in wetlands, but differences among them make them unique ecosystems. Can you spot any differences?


Pixabay- carr

marsh

swamp

fen

bog

What are the types of wetlands?

Resources

Notebook

Click here to download the instructions for this activity. Save to your Wetlands Notebook.

  Check Your Answers

Once you have completed this activity, check your answers below. 

Peatlands  Non-Peatlands
 Bog  Marsh
 Fen  Swamp
   Carr


 Marsh  Bog  Fen  Swamp  Carr
 Water  some open water
very shallow
 saturating the ground, little or no water flow
 saturating the ground
 open water
 very shallow, open water
 Type of soil
 sand, soil, gravel
 sand and gravel
 sand and gravel
 sand, soil, gravel
 sand, soil, gravel
 Vegetation  soft-stemmed herbaceous plants(cattails, rushes, sedges)
 mostly mosses and shrubs
 sedges and grasses
 water-tolerant trees
 woody shrubs (alder, willow, dogwood)
 Source of water
 rainfall, rivers, springs
 rainfall  rainfall and flowing water
 ground water
 precipitation and groundwater
 Location in Alberta
 mostly central and southern
 northern and central
 northern and central
 not in Alberta
 mostly central and southern