A reedbed or reed bed is a natural habitat found in floodplains, waterlogged depressions and estuaries. Reedbeds are part of a succession from young reeds colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground. As reedbeds age, they build up a considerable litter layer that eventually rises above the water level and that ultimately provides opportunities in the form of new areas for larger terrestrial plants such as shrubs and trees to colonise.[1]
Reedbeds vary in the species that they can support, depending upon water levels within the wetland system, climate, seasonal variations, and the nutrient status and salinity of the water. Reed swamps have 20 cm or more of surface water during the summer and often have high invertebrate and bird species use. Reed fens have water levels at or below the surface during the summer and are often more botanically complex. Reeds and similar plants do not generally grow in very acidic water; so, in these situations, reedbeds are replaced by bogs and vegetation such as poor fen.
Although common reeds are characteristic of reedbeds, not all vegetation dominated by this species is characteristic of reedbeds. It also commonly occurs in unmanaged, damp grassland and as an understorey in certain types of damp woodland.
Wildlife
A previously sandy shore colonised by reeds forming a reedbed.
Constructed wetlands are artificial swamps (sometimes called reed fields) using reed or other marshland plants to form part of small-scale sewage treatment systems. Water trickling through the reedbed is cleaned by microorganisms living on the root system and in the litter. These organisms utilize the sewage for growth nutrients, resulting in a clean effluent. The process is very similar to aerobic conventional sewage treatment, as the same organisms are used, except that conventional treatment systems require artificial aeration.
Treatment ponds are small versions of constructed wetlands which uses reedbeds or other marshland plants to form an even smaller water treatment system. Similar to constructed wetlands, water trickling through the reedbed is cleaned by microorganisms living on the root system and in the litter. Treatment ponds are used for the water treatment of a single house or a small neighbourhood.
reed, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2012, learn. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Reed bed news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message A reedbed or reed bed is a natural habitat found in floodplains waterlogged depressions and estuaries Reedbeds are part of a succession from young reeds colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground As reedbeds age they build up a considerable litter layer that eventually rises above the water level and that ultimately provides opportunities in the form of new areas for larger terrestrial plants such as shrubs and trees to colonise 1 A reedbed in summer Reedbed in winter Artificial reedbeds are used to remove pollutants from greywater and are also called constructed wetlands 2 Contents 1 Types 2 Wildlife 3 Uses 3 1 Constructed wetlands 3 2 Treatment ponds 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 ReferencesTypes EditReedbeds vary in the species that they can support depending upon water levels within the wetland system climate seasonal variations and the nutrient status and salinity of the water Reed swamps have 20 cm or more of surface water during the summer and often have high invertebrate and bird species use Reed fens have water levels at or below the surface during the summer and are often more botanically complex Reeds and similar plants do not generally grow in very acidic water so in these situations reedbeds are replaced by bogs and vegetation such as poor fen Although common reeds are characteristic of reedbeds not all vegetation dominated by this species is characteristic of reedbeds It also commonly occurs in unmanaged damp grassland and as an understorey in certain types of damp woodland Wildlife Edit A previously sandy shore colonised by reeds forming a reedbed Most European reedbeds mainly comprise common reed Phragmites australis but also include many other tall monocotyledons adapted to growing in wet conditions other grasses such as reed sweet grass Glyceria maxima Canary reed grass Phalaris arundinacea and small reed Calamagrostis species large sedges species of Carex Scirpus Schoenoplectus Cladium and related genera yellow flag iris Iris pseudacorus reed mace bulrush Typha species water plantains Alisma species and flowering rush Butomus umbellatus Many dicotyledons also occur such as water mint Mentha aquatica gipsywort Lycopus europaeus skull cap Scutellaria species touch me not balsam Impatiens noli tangere brooklime Veronica beccabunga and water forget me nots Myosotis species Many animals are adapted to living in and around reedbeds These include mammals such as Eurasian otter European beaver water vole Eurasian harvest mouse and water shrew and birds such as great bittern purple heron European spoonbill water rail and other rails purple gallinule marsh harrier various warblers reed warbler sedge warbler etc bearded reedling and reed bunting Uses EditConstructed wetlands Edit Main article Constructed wetlands Constructed wetlands are artificial swamps sometimes called reed fields using reed or other marshland plants to form part of small scale sewage treatment systems Water trickling through the reedbed is cleaned by microorganisms living on the root system and in the litter These organisms utilize the sewage for growth nutrients resulting in a clean effluent The process is very similar to aerobic conventional sewage treatment as the same organisms are used except that conventional treatment systems require artificial aeration Treatment ponds Edit Reedbed of Harchies ponds Belgium Main article Treatment pond Treatment ponds are small versions of constructed wetlands which uses reedbeds or other marshland plants to form an even smaller water treatment system Similar to constructed wetlands water trickling through the reedbed is cleaned by microorganisms living on the root system and in the litter Treatment ponds are used for the water treatment of a single house or a small neighbourhood Gallery Edit Reedbed of Phragmites australis and Carex acutiformis Reedbed of Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia Reedbed of Miscanthus Reedbed of Arundo donaxSee also Edit Wetlands portalOrganisms used in water purification South Milton LeyReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reedbeds Reedbeds and their wildlife Wildfowl amp Wetlands Trust 6 January 2022 Does Botanical Diversity in Sewage Treatment Reed Beds Enhance Invertebrate Diversity Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reed bed amp oldid 1119326133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
