The food chain begins with dead, organic material entering the water. Some of these become food for larger animals, like birds, fish and mammals. When these animals die, the cycle begins again. Rich wetland soil was a primary target for agriculturists, resulting in the disappearance of more than half of America's original wetlands. Only recently have these environments been perceived as valuable ecosystems, contributing a wide range of services.
Wetlands offer critical habitats for specially adapted fish and wildlife.
They also provide natural rainwater storage, preventing flooding and maintaining stream flow, and act as natural water purifiers by filtering sediment and pollutants from the water. Lastly, wetlands offer a variety of recreational opportunities, including bird-watching, fishing, hiking and photography. Today, the significance of our wetlands is widely recognized, and conservation organizations are striving to restore and preserve them. But these valuable ecosystems now face a threat more serious than bad image, and this threat comes in the form of seemingly harmless plants and animals. Unlike the native inhabitants of our wetlands, these wild invaders are non-native and rapidly displacing the benefits of the environment's resident species.