adapted to a waterlogged environment. Biomass of fungi in palustrine systems 

 is generally expected to be low. Bacterial decomposers are not well adapted 

 to water with a low pH, such as that found in most Maine palustrine wetlands. 

 Other decomposers (invertebrates) are not well adapted to the low oxygen ten- 

 sion found in wetlands. As a result organic matter accumulates in Maine 

 palustrine systems. 



The generalized scheme of energy flow through an ecosystem must be modified 

 for the palustrine system (figure 8-9). Not all the solar energy rendered us- 

 able by the primary producers (plants) is liberated by the respiration of the 

 component organisms in the palustrine system. Full utilization is preventd by 

 physical conditions that limit the activity and number of decomposers. 

 Crossby (1963) found that most of the production in a peat-producing system 

 went into peat; about 5% was consumed by herbivores. 



IMPORTANCE TO HUMANITY 



Palustrine wetlands support diverse food chains and play an important role in 

 pollution control and the hydrologic cycle. The water storage capacity of 

 palustrine wetlands helps slow runoff and reduce runoff from snow melts and 

 heavy rains. The low, flat surfaces of wetlands store runoff from adjacent 

 uplands and slowly release the water to streams, reducing peak flood flows. 

 After wetlands are flooded they may recharge aquifers (water-bearing 

 formations) for several weeks and augment the low flow of streams for an even 

 longer period. Wetlands have the capacity to store peak flood waters tem- 

 porarily which can result in a reduction in the volume and severity of a 

 flood. If the water level in a 10 acre (4 ha) wetland is raised 6 inches (15 

 cm), 1.5 million gallons of water have been stored (Niering 1966). 



Two geologically different wetland basins near Boston were studied by O'Brien 

 (1977). Groundwater accounted for 937o of the total annual discharge from both 

 wetlands. In late summer the wetlands underlain by peat deposits recharged 

 the regional groundwater body. Estimates suggest that during the summer 

 groundwater recharge may be several orders of magnitude greater than surface 

 runoff (O'Brien 1977). 



Palustrine wetlands affect the quality and quantity of water in downstream 

 aquatic systems. For example, in a chain of lakes that receives excess 

 nutrients, the first lake in the chain may become a bog or marsh (depending on 

 the interrelationship of abiotic factors) and entrap nutrients in the peat or 

 sediments of its basin, thereby helping to slow eutrophication in the other 

 lakes of the chain. The dense vegetative cover characteristic of palustrine 

 areas traps sediment by slowing water velocity. In their function as sediment 

 traps palustrine areas enhance the habitat of fish and wildlife in downstream 

 aquatic systems. 



Wetlands also play a significant role in the lives of people. They are valua- 

 ble as open space, offer diverse groupings of plant and animal species, and 

 add to the diversity of the landscape. They support many forms of recreation: 

 bird watching, nature photography, hiking, camping, canoeing, hunting, 

 fishing, berrypicking, trapping, skating, skiing, and picnicking. 



8-27 



10-80 



