Wetlands can be enormous ecosystems. Plants and animals of all sorts seem to thrive in large numbers. Despite their large size, wetlands can be very fragile. External influences can alter a wetlands future. Understanding some of these threats can help in the management of a healthy wetland ecosystem.
Invasive Species
At first glance, any flora and fauna may indicate a flourishing ecosystem. However, there is a balance between species that are native and those that are invasive. These invasive species can sometimes be opportunistic. This means that they can take over the wetland ecosystem entirely. This crowds out native species. Which, in turn, can affect other organisms that rely on native species for survival.
If native species start to disappear, the health of the wetland could decline. That is why invasive species control Sarasota FL is so important. These control measures can keep these harmful effects in check.
Draining Wetlands
Wetlands can seem like a great water reservoir. Sometimes, they can be drained for construction or agricultural reasons. In other cases, they can be drained entirely to make way for new developments. Draining wetlands dramatically affect the wetland ecosystem. Plants and wildlife will disappear. But also, the disappearance of a wetland can be an area that will be more prone to flooding.
Pollution
Pollutants can alter the wetland ecosystem. These pollutants can be anything from road runoff to plastics. Natural plants will slowly absorb the pollution, which can create lasting negative effects. If left unchecked, pollution could eliminate an entire wetland ecosystem. Sometimes simple actions like regular litter clean-up can help the wetland’s health.
These are just a few factors that can affect wetlands. Overall, wetlands can be incredibly resilient. Keeping up with wetland maintenance and doing activities like litter control can help a wetland thrive far into the future.
