Environmental Factor- Water

Water is a crucial component for living things, and plants are no exception. Water is used to move nutrients through the plant. With that in mind, too much water can be a bad thing for some species in our study area. “Of the known 250 000 angiosperm species, only about 3–5% are adapted to the wetland environment. Some ferns and fern allies (Pteridophyta), such as floating water fern (Ceratopteris pteridoides), and some gymnosperms, such as bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), and tamarack (Larix laricina), do grow in wetlands”(Likens, 2021/2009). This is a prime example of how few species can live in an environment like a swamp or bog. This is due to the fact that high levels of water can cause the roots of plants to rot, and plants will often drown in the anaerobic environment, as cellular respiration becomes difficult without available oxygen. To combat this, species like the red maple have developed adaptations to combat the threat posed by high water levels. “These include aerenchyma, which allows for the transfer of gasses from the body of the plant to the roots, adventitious root systems, which allow for roots to remain above the water level, and more” (Bedford, Gibbs, 2001). In our site we observed how the water amount increased, and the type and diversity of plant life changed as the water level rose. For example, in the forest surrounding the bog, there are species like Eastern Hemlock, White Pine, Red Oak, along with wildflowers and grasses along the trail, but as you encroach on the bog and water becomes more prevalent, the environment becomes dominated with water adapted species like Red Maple, Tamarack, Cattails, various fern species, and others.