The swampy area is a special world of flora and fauna. The nature of the swamp is such that various animals live here and grow amazing plants, many of which are listed in the Red Book. From a scientific point of view, a swamp is a kind of swampy piece of land with high humidity and acidity. In such places, there is constant dampness, powerful evaporation and lack of oxygen (a photo of the swamp is presented in the article). If we speak plain language, then this is an amazing microcosm with a peculiar vegetation and no less unique inhabitants. Here we will talk about them in more detail.

How do swamps form?

Through the activities of animals (for example, beavers) or through the fault of man. During the construction of dams and dams intended for the construction of special reservoirs and ponds, the soil inevitably loses its properties, loses its degree of fertility, and silts up. One of the most important conditions for the formation of a swamp is a constant excess of moisture. In turn, excessive moisture can be provoked by certain features of the local relief, for example, lowlands appear, into which groundwater and precipitation constantly flow.

All this leads to the formation of peat. Soon a swamp appears. The inhabitants of these places are peculiar creatures. The fact is that not every living organism will be able to adapt to life in such extreme conditions, because, as already mentioned, there is always a lack of oxygen, the soil has a low degree of fertility, and the entire area is characterized by excessive moisture and, of course, high acidity. . Therefore, such animals must be given their due! So, let's get to know these characters better.

Amphibians

In general, all potential animals of swamps are numerous, but mostly non-permanent inhabitants of this area. Many of them stay here only for a short period of time, for example, for a season, after which they rush to leave this gloomy place. There are not so many permanent inhabitants of the swampy areas, but almost everyone knows them. Among them, the most famous and numerous are representatives of the class of amphibians, or amphibians: and newts.

frogs

Frogs are perhaps the most famous and most numerous inhabitants of the swamp. Many herpetologists (specialists in amphibians and reptiles) consider these creatures quite charming creatures and classify them among the most beautiful animals in the world. Indeed, the body structure of frogs is peculiar and unique. Their head is quite large and wide. They don't have a neck. Therefore, the head immediately turns into a short but wide body.

Frogs are part of the order Anurans, which has about 6,000 modern and about 84 fossil species. As the name of their squad suggests, these creatures have neither a neck nor a tail. But they have two pairs of perfectly developed limbs. Herpetologists attributed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, toads, toads and spadefoots to tailless amphibians. Outwardly, they look like frogs, but are not closely related to them.

In the daytime, these creatures bask in the sun, nestling comfortably on the swamp lilies or on the shore. If a mosquito, beetle or fly flies by, the frog throws out its sticky tongue towards the insect with lightning speed. Having caught the prey, the amphibian immediately swallows it. Frogs reproduce by throwing eggs into the swamp. The inhabitants of such reservoirs are not averse to eating, therefore, out of several thousand eggs thrown into the water, only a few dozen survive.

This happens at the beginning of April. It is at this time that frogs wake up after winter suspended animation. Already on the fifth day, tadpoles appear from the surviving eggs. They turn into frogs after 4 months.

The largest frog in the world is the goliath, which lives in African Republic Cameroon. This creature reaches a length of 33 cm and weighs up to 4 kg. However, the most common in the world is the green frog. Its habitat is all of Europe, northwest Africa and Asia. This species of tailless amphibians is found in our swamps more often than all others.

toads

"Companions" of frogs are toads. This is another animal that lives in the swamps all year round. From time immemorial, these amphibians have been known as poisonous creatures. The inhabitants believe that toads possess some kind of poisonous mucus, which they bestow on their enemies. Many still believe that if you pick up a toad, warts will allegedly appear on them. This is not entirely true. Most of these amphibians are completely harmless to humans. Of course, in tropical countries found poisonous toads and frogs, but they can be recognized by their corresponding bright colors.

Remember: toads that live in Russian swamps do not cause any harm to humans. On the contrary, they are beneficial, exterminating a lot of harmful worms, slugs and flying insects. These creatures are nocturnal and, unlike frogs, practically do not need water. That is why you almost never see toads in the daytime. Nevertheless, swamp marshes are the most best environment habitat for these amphibians.

Tritons

The order is represented by salamanders and newts. If the first ones are mostly land creatures, then the newts are just the animals of the swamps. Outwardly, these creatures are somewhat reminiscent of lizards, only their skin is smooth and moist, and their tail is vertically flat (like that of fish). The trunk of newts has an elongated and spindle-shaped structure. Their small head immediately passes into the body, which also imperceptibly passes into the tail.

Most newts live permanently in the swamp, spending most of the year there. At the same time, they lead a secretive life. See a newt with the naked eye wild nature almost impossible! They are wonderful swimmers, but on the shore they are completely helpless creatures. Representatives of the order of tailed amphibians are sedentary animals tied to their home - the swamp. They are inactive and completely unsuited to long-distance travel.

mammals

Of the permanent representatives of the class of mammals, waterfowl rodents can be distinguished: muskrats and aquatic predators - otters. It is worth noting that the mammals inhabitants of the swamp can live not only in the water, but also along its edges. For example, there are moisture-loving voles and water rats. By the way, both of them feel great in this environment: their shelters are moss bumps, and their food is cranberries, blueberries and seeds of various herbs.

Muskrats

These animals are native to North America. They were brought to Russia from Canada in 1928. It took quite a bit of time for these creatures to spread throughout our country. Muskrats are representatives of the order of rodents and permanent animals of swamps. They live in small and large lakes, in river backwaters and, of course, in gloomy peat bogs. There they, like beavers in flowing waters, build their own houses from improvised material.

The settlements of these rodents in the swamp are easy to find. Their dwellings are cone-shaped and reach a height of almost one meter. The muskrat house has a peculiar structure: one or several special chambers are located inside, and a nest is in the center. Theriologists (specialists in mammals) say that this animal is simply created for life in water. The muskrat swims easily and quickly. When looking at this creature, there is no doubt that the swamp is his home!

otters

These creatures are the largest representatives of the order of predatory animals. They, like muskrats, are permanent and irreplaceable animals of swamps, rivers, large and small lakes. Adult individuals reach a length of almost 1 m, and weigh up to 15 kg. These mammals live in almost all corners of our country, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia. Mother nature prepared these animals for living in the water element.

A rounded head, a short but thick neck, a barrel-shaped body, a thick tail and webbed feet help otters cut the water surface without any extra effort. These mammals lead a round-the-clock lifestyle. Since otters are predators, they feed on their own "neighbors" in the swamp: frogs, voles, muskrats, crayfish, worms, snails, snakes. In their free time from hunting, they have fun for their own pleasure, frolicking in swampy swamps, rolling off the banks into the water, etc.

From time to time, otters leave their swamps, going on the so-called "fishing". Several animals swim into the fresh water and begin to jointly hunt for local fish. Otters together drive the whole into some narrow strait, where it will be easier for them to catch their prey. Animals eat small fish without leaving the water, and large ones only on the shore.

By the way, by nature, otters are peaceful animals. Their calm character remains for most of the year, however, in mating season real bloody battles for a female can occur between male rivals!

Birds that live in swamps

Scientists who have researched animal world swamps, argue that this area is quite suitable for the existence of many representatives of the world of fauna, including birds. For example, succulent stems and fruits are an indispensable source of food for ptarmigans, short-eared owls, waders and ducks. These birds have long chosen this area and feel quite comfortable here.

Frankly speaking, birds do not really like to settle in these territories. Ornithologists have noticed that occasionally black grouse and capercaillie fly to the swamps. Apparently, they are driven by the desire to eat delicious berries. According to scientists, even in the rather swampy upper reaches of these places, even the fact is that the swamp for cranes is a real protection from external civilization. In addition, not everyone will be able to get through such swamps!

Queen of the swamps

Speaking about what animals found shelter in the swamp, one cannot fail to mention the queen of these places - the heron. Probably, many of us do not understand the strange addictions of this bird to marshy areas. Meanwhile, herons settle here for a reason! The fact is that thickets of shrubs, sedges and reeds serve as excellent protection against predators. Moreover, there is always something to profit from here (for example, frogs).

The heron, of course, cannot be called beautiful bird, but the queen of swamps - quite! Although some ornithologists still believe that a certain beauty and even grace are characteristic to some extent of this representative of the fauna. Nevertheless, awkward and angular movements, as well as strange, and sometimes frankly clumsy poses, reduce all her beauty to nothing.

Be that as it may, the herons have perfectly adapted to life in such a peculiar habitat. It is impossible to imagine these birds outside any reservoirs and swamps! They agilely climb in the reeds, move perfectly through the water. But their voice is unpleasant, reminiscent of either someone's cries, or someone's roar. Ornithologists warn that herons are very insidious and sometimes vicious creatures. They live in communities, but these birds cannot be called sociable.

In general, the diet of herons is fish, but it is practically non-existent in marshy areas. This explains the predilection of these creatures for frogs. Herons with great pleasure feast on tailless amphibians, crayfish, worms and gastropods.

And finally ... Why are there so many frogs in the swamp?

At the beginning of the article, we talked about the harsh conditions of life in the swampy area. Since this area has a pronounced hyperacidity, many animals and plants of the swamp have low level oxidation. This protection has developed over time. The cold-blooded inhabitants of the area, namely frogs, toads and newts, are especially well suited. Perhaps it is for this reason that they are the most numerous inhabitants of the swampy areas (see photo of the swamp).

The swamp is an ideal habitat for certain animal species. But life in the wetlands is not as easy as it might seem, so the strongest and most adaptable living creatures live there. Depending on the territory, you can meet different representatives of the animal world.

Amphibious inhabitants of the swamps

by the most prominent representatives The animals that live in the swamps are frogs, toads and newts.

Frog

Toad

Triton

Frogs simply adore wet patches of land, so swamps are the main habitat for amphibians. The size of individuals can vary from 8 mm to 32 cm (depending on the species). Main distinctive features frogs are the absence of a tail, short forelimbs, a large and flat head, strong hind limbs that allow jumping over long distances.

Amphibians have excellent hearing, have large bulging eyes, with which they can view the world around them, sticking out only their eyes from the water. Most often, the inhabitants can be found on the shore or marsh lines.

Toads are very similar to frogs, but they lack teeth in the upper jaw. Their skin is dry and covered with warts. Amphibians of this type are nocturnal animals and live on land almost all the time.

Newts are very similar to lizards, but have smooth and moist skin. Their tail looks like a fish, and the body reaches a size of 10-20 cm. Lacking good eyesight, newts have an excellent sense of smell.

Reptile inhabitants of the swamps

TO this species animals include snakes, vipers and turtles. The first species grows up to 1.5 m in size, has scales with ribs and scutes. Most often, animals can be found in grassy swamps. The snakes are very voracious, their main delicacy is frogs and invertebrates.

Vipers prefer to live in the most wet places swamps. They rarely grow more than 65 cm and weigh about 180 g. Individuals have a flat, wide head, supraorbital shields, and a vertical pupil. The most beautiful and brightest are females. Reptiles have several venom-carrying teeth.

Bog turtles grow up to 38 cm in size, weighing up to 1.5 kg. Individuals have a small, round, slightly convex shell, sharp long claws are located on the fingers. Turtles have a long tail that acts as a rudder. They feed on animal larvae, fish fry, mollusks, worms, algae and other living creatures.

Viper

bog turtles

Mammal inhabitants of swamps

The most common mammals are muskrats and otters. The first ones look like a rat and grow up to 36 cm. They are slow on the ground, swim excellently in the water and can hold their breath for up to 17 minutes. With poor eyesight and smell, individuals rely on their excellent hearing.

Muskrat

Otter

Otters are one of the most beautiful animals in the swamps. They grow up to 1 meter and have excellent muscles. Individuals have small ears, a long tail, short legs and a thick neck.

swamp birds

The swamps are also home to many birds, including ptarmigans, short-eared owls, ducks, common cranes and sandpipers.

Partridge

The swamp is a natural community widespread in our country. Look at physical map Russia: what a significant area is occupied by swamps. Wet place, hummocks, bog, reed thickets, rare bushes.

How was the swamp formed? Once upon a time there was a small lake in this place, which did not have a runoff, its banks were quickly overgrown with reeds and cattails. Water lilies and lilies rose from the bottom. Every year, reeds and reeds grew, more and more protruded from the banks to the water, intertwined with stems, closing the water, mosses settled on the stems, they absorbed moisture and the water stagnated. Several decades passed, and the plants completely captured the lake and closed the water. Every year the thickets became thicker. And now a thick layer has formed almost to the very bottom. That is why, when you walk through the swamp, the bumps are so springy, your legs get stuck, just look - you will fail. Maybe the forest stream flowed slowly and gradually overgrown with herbs in the lowlands, or a spring spouted from the ground and soaked everything around with water. That's how water piggy banks appeared in these places - swamps.

A lot of water means that moisture-loving grasses and shrubs began to grow, and animals with birds settle down such as you can only see in the swamp. The surface of some swamps is densely covered with mosses. Especially a lot of water is able to absorb sphagnum moss, which means “sponge” in Greek (Fig. 2).

Sphagnum has special property kill microbes. Therefore, the remains of dead organisms are not completely processed, they accumulate under a layer of moss, compact, and as a result, peat is formed - a combustible mineral. Peat thickness can reach 3-4 meters or more. It is on this peat cushion that other inhabitants of the swamp live. Peat is very saturated with water, and it contains almost no oxygen necessary for the respiration of the roots. Therefore, only a few plants can grow in swamps. Most often, wild rosemary, sedge, and cranberries settle on a thick carpet of moss (Fig. 3-5).

Rice. 3. Marsh rosemary ()

Among swamp plants, cranberries are especially valued. People have been collecting this healing berry for a long time. In addition to cranberries, other tasty berries grow in swamps: blueberries (Fig. 6), cloudberries.

Rice. 6. Blueberry ()

In the swamps adapted such herbaceous plants like cotton grass, reed, calamus, reeds and cattail (Fig. 7, 8).

The cattail has large, dark brown heads that are densely built of raw hairs. Seeds ripen under the hairs, in autumn, when the seeds ripen, the hairs dry out and the head itself becomes very light. You touch it - and light fluff flies around you. On parachutes, cattail seeds scatter in different directions. Even in the last century, life jackets were made from this fluff. And a round packing fabric was made from the stalk of cattail.

Unusual plants are also found in the swamps. Sundew (Fig. 9) and pemphigus are predatory plants.

Sundew catches and eats insects. Insects are fast and mobile, how can this plant threaten them? The small leaves of sundew are covered with small hairs and droplets of sticky juice, similar to dew, which is why the plant was called sundew. The bright color of the leaves and droplets attract insects, but as soon as a mosquito or fly sits on a plant, it immediately sticks to it. The leaf shrinks, and its sticky hairs suck out all the juices from the insect. Why did the sundew turn into a predator plant? Because on poor marshy soils she lacks nutrients. A day sundew is able to swallow and digest up to 25 mosquitoes.

In a similar way, the Venus flytrap catches prey (Fig. 10).

Rice. 10. Venus flytrap ()

It has leaflets that close like jaws when one touches the hairs on the surface of the leaves. Since these plants are rare, they need to be protected.

Another trap was invented by pemphigus, they named this plant for the sticky green bubbles that densely cover its thin, thread-like leaves (Fig. 11, 12).

Rice. 11. Vesicles of pemphigus ()

Rice. 12. Pemphigus ()

All the leaves of the plant are in water, there are no roots, and only a thin stalk with yellow flowers rises above the surface. The plant needs bubbles for hunting, and this grass hunts for aquatic inhabitants: small crustaceans, water fleas, ciliates. Each bubble is a cunningly arranged trap and at the same time digestive organ. A special door closes the vial until some creature touches the hairs of this hole. Then the valve opens and the bubble sucks in the prey. You can't get out of the bubble, the valve, like a door to a room, opens only in one direction. Inside the bubble are glands that produce digestive juice. In this juice, the prey is dissolved and then absorbed by the plant. Bladderwort is very gluttonous. After about 20 minutes, the bubble is ready to capture a new victim.

How did the animals of the swamps adapt to life in wet places? Among the inhabitants of the swamps, a frog is known. The dampness helps the frogs keep their skin constantly moist, and the abundance of mosquitoes provides them with food. Beavers (Fig. 13), water rats settle on the swampy banks of the rivers, you can see the snake and the swamp viper.

Have you heard the saying: "Every sandpiper praises his swamp"? Kulik is a slender bird, similar to a seagull. This bird has protective plumage; with its long beak, the sandpiper finds mosquito larvae hiding there in the mud (Fig. 14).

Often in the swamps you can meet herons (Fig. 15) and cranes (Fig. 16), these birds have long and thin legs, this allows them to walk through the cold mud without falling through.

Herons and cranes feed on frogs, molluscs, worms, which are abundant in the swamp. White partridges love to feast on sweet berries in the swamp, and moose and roe deer like to eat juicy parts of plants.

In the evenings and nights, someone's roar is heard in the swamp, reminiscent of the roar of a bull. What people didn't say about it! As if the water one is screaming or the goblin quarreled with him. Who roars and laughs in the swamp? A small-sized bittern bird roars and hoots terribly (Fig. 17).

The bittern has a very loud cry, spreading for 2-3 kilometers in the vicinity. Bittern lives in reed beds, in reeds. Bittern hunts for crucians, perches, pikes, frogs and tadpoles. For hours, the bittern stands motionless in the thickets near the water and suddenly throws its beak, sharp as a dagger, with lightning speed - and the fish cannot escape. You start looking for a bittern in the swamp - and you will pass by. She will raise her beak vertically, stretch her neck, and you will never distinguish it from a bunch of dry grass or reeds.

But not only the bittern screams at night in the swamp. Here it sits on a branch predatory bird owl. It is almost 80 centimeters long (Fig. 18).

This is a night robber and there is no salvation from him for either birds or rodents. This is how he laughs in the swamp when it gets dark.

Residents of swampy places sometimes at night can watch an amazing spectacle of many bluish lights dancing in the swamp. What is it? Researchers have not yet come to a consensus on this issue. Maybe it's swamp gas igniting. Its clouds will come to the surface and light up in the air.

People have been afraid of swamps for a long time. They sought to drain and use the land for pastures and fields, and thus thought that they were helping nature. Is it so? The swamp is of great benefit. First, it is a natural reservoir fresh water. Streams flowing from the swamps feed big rivers and lakes. When it rains, the mosses of the swamps absorb excess moisture like sponges. And in dry years they save water bodies from drying out. Therefore, often after draining the swamps, rivers and lakes become shallow. Vasyugan swamp is one of the most big swamps in the world, its area is larger than the area of ​​Switzerland (Fig. 19).

Rice. 19. Vasyugan swamp ()

Located between the rivers Ob and Irtysh. The Vasyugan River originates in this swamp. Rivers such as the Volga, Dnieper, Moskva River also flow from swamps. Secondly, swamps are beautiful natural filters. The water in them passes through thickets of plants, a thick layer of peat and is freed from dust, harmful substances, pathogenic microbes. It enters the rivers from the marshes pure water. Thirdly, valuable berry plants grow in swamps: cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries. They contain sugar, vitamins, minerals. Also grow in swamps medicinal plants. For example, during the Great Patriotic War sphagnum moss was used as a dressing for fast healing wounds. Sundew is used to treat colds and coughs. In addition, the swamp is a natural peat factory, which is used both as a fuel and as a fertilizer.

Remember: you can not approach the wetlands and peat developments in the swamp! It is very dangerous.

Bears, deer, wild boars, elk, roe deer come to the swamps, which also find food for themselves here.

The swamp is the same necessary part of nature as forests and meadows, they also need to be protected. The destruction of swamps will lead to a change in nature on the entire planet. At present, 150 swamps of Russia have been taken under protection.

Today in the lesson you received new knowledge about the swamp as natural community and get to know its inhabitants.

Bibliography

  1. Vakhrushev A.A., Danilov D.D. The world 3. - M.: Ballas.
  2. Dmitrieva N.Ya., Kazakov A.N. The world around 3. - M .: Publishing house "Fedorov".
  3. Pleshakov A.A. The world around 3. - M .: Education.
  1. Biofile.ru ().
  2. Liveinternet.ru ().
  3. Animalworld.com.ua ().

Homework

  1. What is a swamp?
  2. Why can't swamps dry up?
  3. What animals can be found in the swamp?

The swamp is a natural community widespread in our country. Look at the physical map of Russia: what a significant area the swamps occupy. Wet place, hummocks, bog, reed thickets, rare bushes.

How was the swamp formed? Once upon a time there was a small lake in this place, which did not have a runoff, its banks were quickly overgrown with reeds and cattails. Water lilies and lilies rose from the bottom. Every year, reeds and reeds grew, more and more protruded from the banks to the water, intertwined with stems, closing the water, mosses settled on the stems, they absorbed moisture and the water stagnated. Several decades passed, and the plants completely captured the lake and closed the water. Every year the thickets became thicker. And now a thick layer has formed almost to the very bottom. That is why, when you walk through the swamp, the bumps are so springy, your legs get stuck, just look - you will fail. Maybe the forest stream flowed slowly and gradually overgrown with herbs in the lowlands, or a spring spouted from the ground and soaked everything around with water. That's how water piggy banks appeared in these places - swamps.

A lot of water means that moisture-loving grasses and shrubs began to grow, and animals with birds settle down such as you can only see in the swamp. The surface of some swamps is densely covered with mosses. Especially a lot of water is able to absorb sphagnum moss, which means “sponge” in Greek (Fig. 2).

Sphagnum has a special ability to kill microbes. Therefore, the remains of dead organisms are not completely processed, they accumulate under a layer of moss, compact, and as a result, peat is formed - a combustible mineral. Peat thickness can reach 3-4 meters or more. It is on this peat cushion that other inhabitants of the swamp live. Peat is very saturated with water, and it contains almost no oxygen necessary for the respiration of the roots. Therefore, only a few plants can grow in swamps. Most often, wild rosemary, sedge, and cranberries settle on a thick carpet of moss (Fig. 3-5).

Rice. 3. Marsh rosemary ()

Among swamp plants, cranberries are especially valued. People have been collecting this healing berry for a long time. In addition to cranberries, other tasty berries grow in swamps: blueberries (Fig. 6), cloudberries.

Rice. 6. Blueberry ()

Such herbaceous plants as cotton grass, reed, calamus, bulrush and cattail have adapted to the swamps (Fig. 7, 8).

The cattail has large, dark brown heads that are densely built of raw hairs. Seeds ripen under the hairs, in autumn, when the seeds ripen, the hairs dry out and the head itself becomes very light. You touch it - and light fluff flies around you. On parachutes, cattail seeds scatter in different directions. Even in the last century, life jackets were made from this fluff. And a round packing fabric was made from the stalk of cattail.

Unusual plants are also found in the swamps. Sundew (Fig. 9) and pemphigus are predatory plants.

Sundew catches and eats insects. Insects are fast and mobile, how can this plant threaten them? The small leaves of sundew are covered with small hairs and droplets of sticky juice, similar to dew, which is why the plant was called sundew. The bright color of the leaves and droplets attract insects, but as soon as a mosquito or fly sits on a plant, it immediately sticks to it. The leaf shrinks, and its sticky hairs suck out all the juices from the insect. Why did the sundew turn into a predator plant? Because on poor marshy soils, it lacks nutrients. A day sundew is able to swallow and digest up to 25 mosquitoes.

In a similar way, the Venus flytrap catches prey (Fig. 10).

Rice. 10. Venus flytrap ()

It has leaflets that close like jaws when one touches the hairs on the surface of the leaves. Since these plants are rare, they need to be protected.

Another trap was invented by pemphigus, they named this plant for the sticky green bubbles that densely cover its thin, thread-like leaves (Fig. 11, 12).

Rice. 11. Vesicles of pemphigus ()

Rice. 12. Pemphigus ()

All the leaves of the plant are in water, there are no roots, and only a thin stalk with yellow flowers rises above the surface. The plant needs bubbles for hunting, and this grass hunts for aquatic inhabitants: small crustaceans, water fleas, ciliates. Each bubble is a cunningly arranged trap and at the same time a digestive organ. A special door closes the vial until some creature touches the hairs of this hole. Then the valve opens and the bubble sucks in the prey. You can't get out of the bubble, the valve, like a door to a room, opens only in one direction. Inside the bubble are glands that produce digestive juice. In this juice, the prey is dissolved and then absorbed by the plant. Bladderwort is very gluttonous. After about 20 minutes, the bubble is ready to capture a new victim.

How did the animals of the swamps adapt to life in wet places? Among the inhabitants of the swamps, a frog is known. The dampness helps the frogs keep their skin constantly moist, and the abundance of mosquitoes provides them with food. Beavers (Fig. 13), water rats settle on the swampy banks of the rivers, you can see the snake and the swamp viper.

Have you heard the saying: "Every sandpiper praises his swamp"? Kulik is a slender bird, similar to a seagull. This bird has protective plumage; with its long beak, the sandpiper finds mosquito larvae hiding there in the mud (Fig. 14).

Often in the swamps you can meet herons (Fig. 15) and cranes (Fig. 16), these birds have long and thin legs, this allows them to walk through the cold mud without falling through.

Herons and cranes feed on frogs, molluscs, worms, which are abundant in the swamp. White partridges love to feast on sweet berries in the swamp, and moose and roe deer like to eat juicy parts of plants.

In the evenings and nights, someone's roar is heard in the swamp, reminiscent of the roar of a bull. What people didn't say about it! As if the water one is screaming or the goblin quarreled with him. Who roars and laughs in the swamp? A small-sized bittern bird roars and hoots terribly (Fig. 17).

The bittern has a very loud cry, spreading for 2-3 kilometers in the vicinity. Bittern lives in reed beds, in reeds. Bittern hunts for crucians, perches, pikes, frogs and tadpoles. For hours, the bittern stands motionless in the thickets near the water and suddenly throws its beak, sharp as a dagger, with lightning speed - and the fish cannot escape. You start looking for a bittern in the swamp - and you will pass by. She will raise her beak vertically, stretch her neck, and you will never distinguish it from a bunch of dry grass or reeds.

But not only the bittern screams at night in the swamp. Here is a bird of prey eagle owl sitting on a branch. It is almost 80 centimeters long (Fig. 18).

This is a night robber and there is no salvation from him for either birds or rodents. This is how he laughs in the swamp when it gets dark.

Residents of swampy places sometimes at night can watch an amazing spectacle of many bluish lights dancing in the swamp. What is it? Researchers have not yet come to a consensus on this issue. Maybe it's swamp gas igniting. Its clouds will come to the surface and light up in the air.

People have been afraid of swamps for a long time. They sought to drain and use the land for pastures and fields, and thus thought that they were helping nature. Is it so? The swamp is of great benefit. First, it is a natural reservoir of fresh water. Streams flowing from swamps feed large rivers and lakes. When it rains, the mosses of the swamps absorb excess moisture like sponges. And in dry years they save water bodies from drying out. Therefore, often after draining the swamps, rivers and lakes become shallow. The Vasyugan swamp is one of the largest swamps in the world, its area is larger than that of Switzerland (Fig. 19).

Rice. 19. Vasyugan swamp ()

Located between the rivers Ob and Irtysh. The Vasyugan River originates in this swamp. Rivers such as the Volga, Dnieper, Moskva River also flow from swamps. Secondly, swamps are wonderful natural filters. The water in them passes through thickets of plants, a thick layer of peat and is freed from dust, harmful substances, pathogenic microbes. Clean water flows into the rivers from the swamps. Thirdly, valuable berry plants grow in swamps: cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries. They contain sugar, vitamins and minerals. Medicinal plants also grow in the swamps. For example, during the Great Patriotic War, sphagnum moss was used as a dressing for the rapid healing of wounds. Sundew is used to treat colds and coughs. In addition, the swamp is a natural peat factory, which is used both as a fuel and as a fertilizer.

Remember: you can not approach the wetlands and peat developments in the swamp! It is very dangerous.

Bears, deer, wild boars, elk, roe deer come to the swamps, which also find food for themselves here.

The swamp is the same necessary part of nature as forests and meadows, they also need to be protected. The destruction of swamps will lead to a change in nature on the entire planet. At present, 150 swamps of Russia have been taken under protection.

Today in the lesson you gained new knowledge about the swamp as a natural community and got to know its inhabitants.

Bibliography

  1. Vakhrushev A.A., Danilov D.D. World around 3. - M.: Ballas.
  2. Dmitrieva N.Ya., Kazakov A.N. The world around 3. - M .: Publishing house "Fedorov".
  3. Pleshakov A.A. The world around 3. - M .: Education.
  1. Biofile.ru ().
  2. Liveinternet.ru ().
  3. Animalworld.com.ua ().

Homework

  1. What is a swamp?
  2. Why can't swamps dry up?
  3. What animals can be found in the swamp?