How are the three major types of freshwater wetlands similar? How are they different?

There are three main types of freshwater wetlands, marshes, swamps and bogs. Marshes is often found at the edges of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They are home to mainly herbaceous plants, such as grasses, reeds and rushes. A marsh can be divided into six catagories. First, wet meadows, these usually occur in depression in the ground. They are usually near a body of water or serve as the transition between a body of water and land. Riverine wetlands, another type of marsh, occur (as the name would suggest) by the sides of rivers. Sawgrass marshes contain sawgrass, which is, contrary to it's name, actually a sedge (not a grass). Sawgrass marshes are flooded for most of the year. Wet prairies, another type of marsh, contain mostly emergents plants, which are (as the name suggests) plants that grow underwater but are also exposed to the air. Wet prairies have a high diversity that is supported by a thin soil know as "marl". Wet prairies have a hydroperiod (time they are covered in water) of three to seven months. The last two types of marshes are specific to the everglades. The first, sloughs, is the part of the everglades that is moving. The second, alligator holes, are indentations made by alligators as they clear earth from limestone impressions. Their hydroperiod is year-round unless there is a severe draught.

The second type of freshwater wetland, swamps, is recognizable by its plantlife. Swamps are often home to trees such as black spruce, cypress and gum. As forested wetlands, swamps often contain small "islands" of dry land, called hammocks. Swamps often appear next to rivers or other large bodies of water. Because they often occur next to rivers, swamps are sometimes moving water.

Bogs, the third type of freshwater wetland, are characterized by their high acidic peat content. Bogs are usually almost entirely rain-fed. Bogs are usually covered in ericaceous shrubs. The surface water where bogs occur is usually acidic and low in nutrients. Because of this plant growth is very slow, but decay is slow aswell. Because of the slow plant cycle in bogs peat usually accumulates. Also, because of the low level of nutrients in bogs, carnivorous plants are common.

There are three main types of freshwater wetlands, marshes, swamps and bogs. Marshes is often found at the edges of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They are home to mainly herbaceous plants, such as grasses, reeds and rushes. A marsh can be divided into six catagories.