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Wetlands of Southwest Michigan

at Mud Lake Bog, Buchanan, MI

A habitat and ecosystem, such as wetlands, connects to everything. Wetlands connect to everything. Many natural elements make up a wetland habitat. Wetlands made of up water and land and more. Wetlands are made up of plants and animals that depend on each other and on the water, land, air, weather, seasons, and climate. The wetland's daily and annual temperature and weather depend on the seasons and climate; the wetland's wetness depends on how much it rains, how quickly or slowly the soil absorbs water, and how quickly or slowly the rain drains away down slope; and its shape and size depends on the land, topography, and geology. Also, wetlands depend on particular types of plants. For instance, bogs usually have Peat Moss; marshes usually have grasses and Cattails; and swamps usually have trees. The Mud Lake Bog habitat would not be the Mud Lake Bog habitat without its water, land, plants, animals, climate, weather, and geology. Furthermore, wetlands provide people with many assets. Wetlands are beneficial to all social elements. For instance, wetlands supplies cattails, which people eat for nourishment (health) and use in the economy (to make cordage, clothing insulation, etc.). Wetlands help cleanse and purify water that gets polluted by people. Clean water helps keep people healthy. Students learn about many fascinating facts about wetlands at school and while experiencing the bog, marsh, and swamp. The government makes laws to try to protect wetlands. Wetlands provides people with inspiration. People make art about wetlands. Wetlands provides people with an opportunity of joy as hike and explore in the wetlands. Many people cherish and value the wetlands. Furthermore, people affect wetlands. People base their culture on wetlands' assets. Either, the culture wisely and sustainably uses wetlands for society's health, economy, education, freedom, art, and celebrations. Or, the culture abuses, pollutes, and wastes wetlands by accident or on purpose. Everything connects to everything; thus, wetlands are related to all social elements (health, economy, school, government, art, values, etc.), culture, and all natural elements (habitats, plants, animals, water, ground, air, etc.).

Winter at the bog.

Spring at the bog.

Summer at the bog.

Fall at the bog.

Meadowhawk Dragonfly (Sympetrum danae).

Female Green Frog (Rana clamitans).

Cattails (Typhia spp.) are a typical plant of a marsh. A marsh is a wetland that usually includes a lot of grasses.

Swamp. A swamp is a wetland that usually includes a lot of trees.

Duckweed (Lemna minor) on the water surface, in the swamp. Ducks and fish eat duckweed.

Sphagnum Moss (Sphagnum spp.), also known as Peat Moss, is a typical plant of a bog. A bog is a wetland that usually has sphagnum moss.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) usually lives in wetlands.

Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) at the bog. The Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous plant. A carnivorous plant eats animals. The Pitchter Plant eats flies, ants, spiders, and moths.

Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a summer wildflower typically found at wetlands and along stream edges. Ripe jewelweed fruit pods explode open when they are touched.

American Larch (Larix laricina) is a conifer. A conifer produces cones instead of flowers. The Larch is a conifer, but it is not an evergreen. The Larch is a deciduous plant. A deciduous plant drops its leaves in the fall and grows new leaves in spring. The Larch drops its old needle leaves in the fall and grows new needle leaves in the spring. The Larch is a decidious conifer; it drops its leaves and produces cones. Image below is the Larch with yellow needle leaves in the fall.

American Larch (Larix laricina) with yellow needles in the fall.

Learn more about Wetlands, click on links below.

Wetlands near the Great Lakes
www.great-lakes.net/envt/air-land/wetlands.html

Learn about sustaining nature, click on links below.

Southwest Michigan's Sustainable Pursuits
Various examples of how people of Southwest Michigan are currently taking action to sustain nature.

Additional Sustainable Pursuits
Various examples of how people of Michigan, USA, and beyond are currently taking action to sustain nature.

Great Life, Great Culture
Examples of a sustainable life and sustainable culture. Describes what it takes to be 100% totally sustainable.

Imagine a School
A sustainable school. A school in which children learn about their connections to social elements and natural elements; and children learn how to be a benefit to society and nature and to enrich and sustain society and nature.
40 ways a school can be a benefit to children, society, and nature.

Sustainable Design:

z-design
A landscape architecture firm in Three Oaks, in Southwest Michigan. The firm’s mission includes designing each landscape with multiple purposes: each landscape to be beneficial to society and nature and to be beneficial, beautiful and enticing, useful, and engaging to the people who use it. Also, the firm’s mission includes helping society expand its understanding of the value of nature, habitats, wildlife, and natural resources; and helping people to learn to use, celebrate, replenish, protect, and sustain local natural resources.

Go Back to Southwest Michigan Habitats.