Observe: Visit a Wetland

Now that you have some idea about the types of plants and animals that may be in a wetland, you will visit a virtual wetland to survey some plants and animals there.  You will see some of the plants and animals you have learned about previously.  After that, you will explore further in a real or virtual wetland field study.

In the virtual wetland visit, you will look closely at the role of frogs.  Scientists use frogs as indicators of the health of the ecosystems in which they occur.  Because frogs live on land and in water, they interact with many other animals living in the wetland.  They also have extremely thin, porous skin that is very sensitive to pollutants.  As a result, frog populations are affected most noticeably by any harmful changes to the environment.

Some common frogs found in Alberta wetlands:


wood frog with eggs
 
Pixabay- Northern leopard frog

  Video

Watch this Nature Works video about wetlands to see some of the plants and animals you will be studying.  Hold your mouse at the bottom of the view screen, and click on the third part (Up Close: Wetlands) and the fourth part (Monitoring Macro-Invertebrates).

What kinds of plants and animals live in 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. 

What are some of the most common migratory birds found in wetlands?
  • ducks
  • geese
  • cranes
  • blackbirds
  • snipes
  • grebes
What are common plants found in wetlands?
  • water lilies
  • cattails
  • sedges
  • reeds
  • duckweed
  • small bog cranberries
  • moss
  • lichens
  • liverworts
What are some examples of amphibians found in wetlands?
  • frogs
  • toads
  • newts
  • salamanders
What are some of the insects found in wetlands?
  • mosquitoes
  • dragonflies
  • mayflies
  • beetles
  • damselflies
A mollusk found in a wetland is a snail.
A crustacean found in a wetland is a shrimp.
Reptiles found in a wetland are snakes and turtles.

Frog Collection Study
Type of Frog
Number Found
Northern Leopard Frog
1
Spotted Frog
2
Wood Frog
2
Boreal Chorus Frog
9
How did your results compare with the number found during the university survey?
There was a decrease in the number of frogs.
What does this change in frog population suggest?
Something is harming the wetlands and causing more frogs to die – possibly too much development or pollution affecting the area.