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Discovering the Basics of Wetlands

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Discovering the Basics of Wetlands

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: Jeffrey W. Matthews, Ph.D.

Included with

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Major components of wetlands, including their formation and hydrology
Types of plants and animals that utilize wetland habitats and their adaptations to this environment
Structure and function of wetlands and the importance of their ecosystem services

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

In this course, learners will get familiarized with the major components of wetlands, including their formation and hydrology. They will explore the different soil types, the role of nutrient cycling, and the intrinsic connection to the resulting vegetation. The course will cover the types of plants and animals that utilize wetland habitats and their adaptations to this environment. By the end of the course, learners will have a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of wetlands, as well as the importance of the resulting ecosystem services.

This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs, including the graduate-level certificate, "Wetland Science and Conservation" that can be stacked toward an online master's degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit ACES Online at acesonline.illinois.edu.

In the course orientation, you will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. Then dive into the second part of this module to explore the fascinating world of wetlands from wetland types to formation and hydrology. People have recognized wetlands for a long time, but it’s only more recently that we’ve started to call all these places wetlands.

What's included

10 videos7 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin

10 videos Total 54 minutes

Meet Your Instructor | Dr. Anna Ball 1 minute
Module 1 | Overview 2 minutes
What are Wetlands? 6 minutes
Where Wetlands Occur 4 minutes
Major Wetland Types 9 minutes
Wetland Formation 11 minutes
Hydroperiods 5 minutes
Water Budgets 8 minutes
Surface Water & Groundwater Interactions 7 minutes
Module 1 | Wrap-up 1 minute

7 readings Total 80 minutes

Course Guide 5 minutes
Updating Your Profile 10 minutes
Course Glossary 10 minutes
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | Wetlands Mapper 10 minutes
EPA | Classification and Types of Wetlands 15 minutes
10 Reasons Why the Geomorphology of Wetlands is Important 20 minutes
Additional Resources 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Orientation Quiz 10 minutes
Module 1 | Knowledge Check 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates 10 minutes

1 plugin Total 5 minutes

Supplemental Video | Understanding Wetland Hydrology by Ducks Unlimited Canada 5 minutes

You will explore the foundation of wetlands and their soils in this module. The characteristics of wetlands hydric soils contribute to the unique plant and animal life found in wetland ecosystems. Explore how nutrients and energy cycling occurs in wetlands and tackle global conservation issues.

What's included

11 videos3 readings1 assignment

11 videos Total 53 minutes

Module 2 | Overview 1 minute
Importance & Makeup of Hydric Organic Soils 6 minutes
Soil Color & Wetland Delineation 3 minutes
Peat Bogs & Paludification 7 minutes
Wetland Landscapes & Nutrient Cycling 5 minutes
Redox Reactions in Wetlands 6 minutes
The Role of Nitrogen in Wetlands 5 minutes
The Role of Phosphorus & Sequestering Nutrients in Wetlands 5 minutes
Sulfur & Methane in Wetlands 5 minutes
Soil Fertility in Wetlands 9 minutes
Module 2 | Wrap-up 2 minutes

3 readings Total 70 minutes

Course Glossary 10 minutes
Wetland and Hydric Soils 30 minutes
Nutrients in Wetlands: Implications to Water Quality under Changing Climatic Conditions 30 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 2 | Knowledge Check 30 minutes

Wetlands are home to a unique and diverse range of organisms that have adapted to the difficulties of moisture, acidity, low oxygen, and fluctuating temperatures found in these ecosystems. You will explore the intricacies of wetland organisms and how they have adapted to thrive in a tough ecosystem.

What's included

9 videos5 readings1 assignment

9 videos Total 41 minutes

Module 3 | Overview 2 minutes
Positive Feedback 5 minutes
Wetland Animals as Ecosystem Engineers 4 minutes
Wetland Plants as Ecosystem Engineers 3 minutes
Stressors: Lack of Oxygen 9 minutes
Adaptations to Anoxia 10 minutes
Adaptations to Hypoxia 3 minutes
Adaptations to Salinity 4 minutes
Module 3 | Wrap-up 2 minutes

5 readings Total 55 minutes

Course Glossary 10 minutes
Amphibians and Reptiles 10 minutes
Mammals 10 minutes
Birds 10 minutes
11 Surprising Wetland Plant Adaptations 15 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 3 | Knowledge Check 30 minutes

Wetland structure is largely impacted by hydrology. This impacts the species present in a particular wetland and the overall structure of the wetland. You will examine the role of hydrology and it's impact on the ecosystem services and functions a wetland may provide. At the conclusion of this module, you will be ready to complete the final assessment for the course and earn your Coursera certificate!

What's included

12 videos5 readings2 assignments1 plugin

12 videos Total 48 minutes

Module 4 | Overview 2 minutes
Hydrology & Wetland Type 4 minutes
Hydrology & Ecosystem Structure 4 minutes
Disturbance & Wetland Ecosystem 5 minutes
Hydrology & Ecosystem Function 6 minutes
What are ecosystem services? 5 minutes
Productivity & Food Webs 4 minutes
Provisioning Services from Wetlands 4 minutes
Climate Regulation of Wetlands 5 minutes
Hydrological Regulation 3 minutes
Summary of Ecosystem Services Generated by Wetlands 3 minutes
Module 4 | Wrap-up 1 minute

5 readings Total 60 minutes

Course Glossary 10 minutes
Wetland ecosystem services research: A critical review 20 minutes
Worth of Wetlands 10 minutes
Celebrating Your Achievement & Looking Ahead 10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 150 minutes

Module 4 | Knowledge Check 30 minutes
Final Assessment 120 minutes

1 plugin Total 15 minutes

Wetlands: the superheroes of the natural world 15 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Jeffrey W. Matthews, Ph.D.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

1 Course 1,174 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Frequently asked questions

Yes! Although completion of the Coursera course alone is not credit-bearing, it is a required component of a graduate-level Canvas course that can be "stacked" toward advanced credentials such as an academic (transcriptable) graduate certificate or a degree. If you decide to pursue further education, the credits you earn from this course can be applied toward a formal academic program, provided that you meet all the requirements of admission to the certificate or degree.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.