Which wetland is characterized by trees and slow-moving water?

• A. Swamps
• B. Marshes
• C. Bogs
• D. Fens

Answer: (A)

Wetlands are classified by the plants that dominate them and how water moves through them. A swamp is a wetland where trees are the defining vegetation and the water moves slowly or remains standing. The presence of trees in combination with slow water creates a shaded, moist habitat that supports tree growth. Marshes, by contrast, are open wetlands dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants and usually have little or no tree cover. Bogs feature acidic, peat-rich soils and are dominated by mosses rather than trees. Fens are peat-forming wetlands fed by groundwater and support grasses and shrubs, sometimes with small trees, but not the classic tree-dominated scene of swamps. So, the description of trees and slow-moving water points to a swamp.