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Wetland Threats


Unfortunately, humans are the biggest culprits when it comes to interfering with wetland ecosystems. Destroying wetlands to make way for industry, commerce, housing, agriculture and refuse has reduced these areas to a fraction of what they were. But even interference on a small scale can lead to big problems…

Purple Loosestrife looks pretty, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it is an aggressive runaway from people's gardens that has invaded and taken over North American wetlands. Although colourful, this non-native plant offers little in the way of food or shelter to wetland wildlife. This is leading to a serious loss of plant and animal diversity.

Goldfish, a kind of carp, make popular household pets. But many of these goldfish end up being released into local marshes, where they do a lot of damage. During feeding and spawning, this non-native species uproots aquatic plants and stirs up mud, decreasing the amount of sunlight needed for underwater plant growth.

Controlling mosquitoes by spraying or dusting their habitats with insecticide may limit the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, but it takes a heavy toll on the marsh ecosystem. See how altering the mosquito population can affect other marsh inhabitants.