How is the cowardin wetland classification system used?

The Cowardin system is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the National Wetlands Inventory. In this system, wetlands are classified by landscape position, vegetation cover and hydrologic regime. The Cowardin system includes five major wetland types: marine, tidal, lacustrine, palustrine and riverine.

What is the primary difference between lacustrine and palustrine systems?

Marine and Estuarine Systems each have two Subsystems, Subtidal and Intertidal; the Riverine System has four Subsystems, Tidal, Lower Perennial, Upper Perennial, and Intermittent; the Lacustrine has two, Littoral and Limnetic; and the Palustrine has no Subsystems.

What is a PEM wetland?

Palustrine emergent (PEM) include wetlands characterized by erect, rooted, herbaceous hydrophytes (i.e aquatic plants), excluding mosses and lichens (Cowardin et al 1979). Wildlife frequently use these areas for nesting and feeding, particularly during migration.

What are swamps used for?

Swamps are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. They act like giant sponges or reservoirs. When heavy rains cause flooding, swamps and other wetlands absorb excess water, moderating the effects of flooding. Swamps also protect coastal areas from storm surges that can wash away fragile coastline.

What are marsh plants adapted to?

Some adaptations that help the plants deal with low oxygen and changing water levels are elongated stems, shallow roots, aerenchyma (which are special air pockets inside their stems), and adventitious roots (which are special roots that sprout off their underwater stems to help the plants take in water, oxygen, and …

What is the meaning of Palustrine?

Definition of palustrine : living or thriving in a marshy environment palustrine plants : being or made up of marsh a palustrine habitat.

What are NWI codes used for?

The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) provides scientifically-based information on the location, status, extent, characteristics, and functions of wetlands and related habitats to promote the understanding and conservation of these resources.

What is a lacustrine system?

The Lacustrine System includes permanently flooded lakes and reservoirs (e.g., Lake Superior), intermittent lakes (e.g., playa lakes), and tidal lakes with ocean-derived salinities below 0.5 ‰ (e.g., Grand Lake, Louisiana). Typically, there are extensive areas of deep water and there is considerable wave action.

What is the difference between an emergent and a palustrine wetland?

Emergent vegetation commonly includes cattails, bulrushes, reeds, pickerel weed, arrowheads and ferns. Scrub-shrub wetland is dominated by woody vegetation less than 20 feet tall, such as buttonbush, alders, and many kinds of saplings. Forested palustrine wetland is dominated by woody vegetation over 20 feet tall.

What are lacustrine wetlands?

Glossary Term. Lacustrine wetland. Wetlands that are generally larger than 20 acres and having less than 30% cover of vegetation such as trees, shrubs, or persistent emergent plants. Lacustrine sediments are generally made up of fine-grained particles deposited in lakes.

What is the Cowardin classification system?

The classification system (Cowardin et al. 1979) has been cited extensively in the scientific literature and applied internationally. Shortly after publication of the classification, a National list of hydrophytes and other plants

What is the Cowardin system of wetlands?

The Cowardin system is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the National Wetlands Inventory. In this system, wetlands are classified by landscape position, vegetation cover and hydrologic regime. The Cowardin system includes five major wetland types: marine, tidal, lacustrine, palustrine and riverine.

How long has the evolving classification been used by the NWI?

At the same time, the authors tested the evolving classification at numerous locations throughout the United States. The final ver- sion was published in 1979 (Cowardin et al. 1979); it was reprinted in 1985 and 1992. The classification has been used by the NWI for 13 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XNX2l5f_XQ