The Importance of Estuaries and Wetlands

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“Wetland ecosystems are the most productive environments in the world. They provide critical habitats for many rate species and plant communities due to their extreme productivity as feeding area and support of a high number of habitat niches. In addition, wetlands play important roles in maintaining water quality via biofiltration, and the regulation of rainfall run-off by acting as storage sites for surface water.”

“Salt and estuarine marshes on east Vancouver Island have declined to an estimated 32% of their extent in the early 1900s, because of coastal dyking and conversion of marshes to agriculture. More recently, impacts have occurred from activities such as log handling and marina construction.”

“Estuarine wetlands are one of the most productive habitats in the world. They provide critical habitat for thousands of wintering water birds, and Pacific Salmon depend on them to adjust to changing levels of salinity when they leave the rive3rs as smolts and return as adults to spawn.”

“The importance of the Nanoose Bay Unit lies in its estuarine habitat, its situation in relation to the adjoining mudflats and to Nanoose Harbour at large. The sheltered bay winters large numbers of waterfowl and is an important year-round resting and feeding area for migratory birds. The wildlife area itself has a varied habitat of mudflats, marine spits, salt marsh, wet meadows, and riparian vegetation. More than 200 species of plants and more than 190 species of animals, of which 131 are bird species, are recorded for the unit.

These quotes are from “Sensitive ecosystems Inventory Program “ website from Regional District of Nanaimo as Part of our property assessment by Streamline Environmental Consulting Ltd. Reported by Adam Compton, B.Sc., R.P.BIO.

Quoted from author, journalist, Goody Niosi, in Homes and Living Magazine, fall 2009 edition, www.hlmagazine.com

“Perhaps the best tribute came from Biologist, Curtis Kerns, who said, “Our wetlands are the most productive bio-lands in the world. We have a history of those lands and I really applaud the Robinsons for creating more wetlands. We now have wetlands that will be kept like this in perpetuity. There aren’t many people on this planet that have done this.”.”

Curtis Kerns, owner of Wetlands Pacific, wastewater management company, Vancouver Island. www.WetlandsPacific.com

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We spotted this little guy on the Christmas Weekend 2010.

Walking on Water: Pacific Water Shrew
Shrews are tiny mammals and the 15 cm Pacific Water Shrew with its tail making up half this total length is the largest BC member of this family. With the aid of its small feet covered in coarse stiff hairs it can actually run on water for several seconds at a time. It can be recognized by its long pointed snout, short velvet fur which is blackish brown to black in colour, tiny eyes, and sharp teeth that can shear its prey of aquatic insects, earthworms, slugs, and snails.
Shrews live less than 18 months and because they are not sexually mature until their second summer, have only one breeding season. However, they make the most of this time by producing two to three litters of three to six young per litter.
Their small size results in a high rate of heat loss in proportion to their body size. To compensate for this they have a high metabolic rate which requires them to eat a lot: at least their own body weight each day. Thus, they spend their days (and nights as well) searching for and eating food. As they do not hibernate, this activity also has to occur throughout winter when food can be scarce.
They are found along the Pacific coast from northern California to the lower Fraser Valley, their only location in southern BC. They have probably always been uncommon but lately have become even more rare as urbanization has caused their preferred habitat of forested land along streams and wetlands to rapidly disappear. Although the total number of Pacific Water Shrews living in BC is not known, sampling surveys have indicated very few sightings and recognizing its perilous state, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated it as Threatened in 1994.

What you can do:
Support initiatives to protect riparian areas including the establishment of parks and reserves along streams and around wetlands. 30 to 50 meter wide strips are prescribed by the Forest Practices Code, however, some researchers believe that 60 to 100 meters are required for animals like the Pacific Water Shrew.
Restoration of streams that have been damaged by pollution, erosion, channelization, and other activities is extremely helpful.
Any sightings, specimens, or observations of activities threatening the shrews’ habitat should be reported to the nearest BC Environment office.

Permalink | December 9th, 2009