Wetland Classification Mod 3
Wetland Classification
National Wetlands Classification Standard
4 goals:
To provide a standard way of describing ecological units
To characterize units in a frame work that will aid in natural resources management
Identify classification units for inventory and mapping
Provide uniformity in concepts and terminology
Wetlands assigned a code, e.g. L1UB1Hx
Broadest classification describes the system level
The term system refers here to a complex of wetlands and deepwater habitats that share the influence of similar hydrologic, geomorphologic, chemical, or biological factors. (First letter in code, e.g. L for Lacustrine)
5 systems of wetlands and deepwater habitats:
Marine
Estuarine
Riverine
Lacustrine
Palustrine
Some systems are divided into sub-systems
Marine (Subtidal and Intertidal)
Estuarine (Subtidal and Intertidal)
Riverine
Lacustrine (Limnetic and Littoral)
Palustrine
Systems and subsystems are further divided into classes, which describe substrate/general vegetation
Classes are further divided into subclasses, which either further describe the substrate or characterize vegetation
Wetlands are further described by Water Regime
Wetlands are further described by soil type, generally organic vs. mineral
And also described by water chemistry
At the lowest level we have wetland dominance types which denote the dominant species of vegetation
Combined, we get a complete wetland classification
Systems
Marine
Ocean
The marine system consists of the open ocean overlying the continental shelf and its associated high-energy coastline
Marine habitats are exposed to the waves and currents of the open ocean and the water regimes are determined primarily by the ebb and flow of oceanic tides
Salinities exceed 30%, with little or no dilution except outside the mouths of estuaries
Estuarine
Coastal
Consists of deepwater tidal habitats and adjacent tidal wetlands that are usually semi-enclosed by land but have open, partly obstructed, or sporadic access to the open ocean, and
National Wetlands Classification Standard
4 goals:
To provide a standard way of describing ecological units
To characterize units in a frame work that will aid in natural resources management
Identify classification units for inventory and mapping
Provide uniformity in concepts and terminology
Wetlands assigned a code, e.g. L1UB1Hx
Broadest classification describes the system level
The term system refers here to a complex of wetlands and deepwater habitats that share the influence of similar hydrologic, geomorphologic, chemical, or biological factors. (First letter in code, e.g. L for Lacustrine)
5 systems of wetlands and deepwater habitats:
Marine
Estuarine
Riverine
Lacustrine
Palustrine
Some systems are divided into sub-systems
Marine (Subtidal and Intertidal)
Estuarine (Subtidal and Intertidal)
Riverine
Lacustrine (Limnetic and Littoral)
Palustrine
Systems and subsystems are further divided into classes, which describe substrate/general vegetation
Classes are further divided into subclasses, which either further describe the substrate or characterize vegetation
Wetlands are further described by Water Regime
Wetlands are further described by soil type, generally organic vs. mineral
And also described by water chemistry
At the lowest level we have wetland dominance types which denote the dominant species of vegetation
Combined, we get a complete wetland classification
Systems
Marine
Ocean
The marine system consists of the open ocean overlying the continental shelf and its associated high-energy coastline
Marine habitats are exposed to the waves and currents of the open ocean and the water regimes are determined primarily by the ebb and flow of oceanic tides
Salinities exceed 30%, with little or no dilution except outside the mouths of estuaries
Estuarine
Coastal
Consists of deepwater tidal habitats and adjacent tidal wetlands that are usually semi-enclosed by land but have open, partly obstructed, or sporadic access to the open ocean, and