Wetlands have always been pictured as dark, damp, and dismal, places of evil deeds, the lair of pirates and thieves, home to snakes and vermin, haunts of werewolves, vampires, and voodoo queens. These mixed emotions about wetlands even color our language. Swamp Thing, featured in marvel comics and cartoons, is a cultural icon born out of this conflict. Trapped in the body of a shambling monster, forced to live in the darkest recesses of the swamp, he fights against the forces of evil before slinking back to his dark sanctuary. But wetlands are economically and ecologically valuable in many ways.
Wetlands support an abundance of life.
Many plants, like cypress and tupelo trees, are specifically adapted to wetland habitats. There are relatively few vertebrates, however, that can survive in this habitat, although several species spend at least part of their lives in swamps. Some fish, like gar and bowfin, are permanent swamp residents. Many other species of fish use the swamp as a nursery for juvenile fish, or move into swamps to feed during periods of high water levels. Unlike other vertebrates, reptiles and amphibians are superbly adapted for life in the swamp.