Along with algae,
plants are 'primary producers" and are the base of the wetland food chain. This is reason enough for plants to be recognized
as important to wetland ecology.
Plants however, do much more:
- They are important in many physical and chemical processes in wetlands.
- They provide habitat and structure for many aquatic organisms.
- They help stabilize shorelines lessening the erosive force of waves.
- Plants have adapted to natural conditions present in wetlands and
therefore are often ill-adapted to changes. These may include changes in nutrient levels, water clarity, and many
other factors.
- Plants are found in almost all wetlands and they are readily identifiable
by people with a minimum of training.
Plants are important
indicators of water quality if only we learn to read their signals, and the IBI is the tool we use to help interpret the often
complex changes occuring in wetlands.
"But I'm
not botanist! " Don't worry, most of the plants used as indicators in WHEP are easy to learn to identify.
It just takes practice. The "Plant Identification Guide" found on this website provides a key to identification with
pictures and illustrations.
