Source: Swamps and Such
The Ohio Digital Classroom helps students and educators succeed through the educational use of media-on-demand.
Swamps and Such. This video series from WOSU Public Media uses the example of a wetland to explain the structure and functions of ecosystems and how ecosystems change over time. In these videos meet wetland scientist Dan Fink who hosts the program and examines the types of communities of plants, animals, birds and fish that abound in wetlands, the process of photosynthesis, and the complex relationship between water and productivity. Developed in collaboration with The Ohio State University Olentangy River Wetlands and Research Park in Columbus, Ohio, this program was videotaped entirely at the Olentangy River Wetlands.
Chapter 1 - Wetland Productivity. Click on "View" to the left to play.
Chapter 2 - Effects of Flooding (Video)
Chapter 3 - Productivity, Diversity, and Stability (Video)
Chapter 4 - Plant Communities (Video)
Chapter 5 - Wetland Habitat (Video)
Nature’s Supermarket. Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems. As a measure, consider that most forests produce two grams of carbon per square meter per day. A wetland produces twice as much—four grams of carbon per square meter per day. The forest is akin to a supermarket with empty shelves. In contrast, a wetland would appear to be a well stocked supermarket.
It takes a lot of energy to sustain this production. The energy mostly comes from the sun via photosynthesis. The energy is transferred from the sun to plants then to animals in a complex food chain. Only about 10% of the energy stored and used by one animal is gained by a predator specie. A healthy wetland is a veritable buffet of food choices for the different animals.
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