Reed bed 1774404 215070965 2008-05-26T15:57:07Z Hämbörger 2389185 /* See also */ +de:Röhricht {{Merge|Reedswamp|date=March 2008}} {{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}} [[Image:Phragmites australis1.jpg|thumb|300px|A reed bed in summer]] [[Image:Harchies RN1hJPG.jpg|thumb|right|Reed bed in winter|300px]] '''Reed beds''' are a natural habitat found in [[floodplain]]s, waterlogged depressions and [[estuary|estuaries]]. Reed beds are part of a [[succession]] from young reed colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground. As reed beds age, they build up a considerable litter layer which eventually rises above the water level, and ultimately provides opportunities for [[scrubland|scrub]] or woodland invasion. Artificial reed beds are used as a method of removing pollutants from [[grey water]]. ==Types of reed bed== Reed beds vary in the species they can support, depending on water levels within the wetland system, climate, seasonal variations, and the nutrient status and salinity of the water. Those that normally have 20 cm or more of surface water during the summer are referred to as ''reed swamp''. These often have high invertebrate and bird species use. Reed beds with water levels at or below the surface during the summer are often more complex botanically and are known as ''reed fen''. Reeds and similar plants do not generally grow in very acidic water, and so in these situations reed beds are replaced by other vegetation such as [[poor-fen]] and [[bog]]. Although [[common reed]] is characteristic of reed beds, not all vegetation dominated by this species is reed bed. It also occurs commonly in unmanaged damp [[grassland]] and as an [[understorey]] in certain types of damp [[woodland]]. ==Wildlife== Most European reed beds are composed mainly of the large wetland grass 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 [[Genus|genera]]), yellow flag iris (''[[Iris pseudacorus]]''), reed-mace ("bulrush" – ''[[Typha]]'' species), water-plantains (''[[Alisma]]'' species), and flowering rush (''[[Butomus umbellatus]]''). Many [[dicotyledon]]s 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 (''[[Myotis]]'' species). Many animals are adapted to living in and around reed-beds. These include mammals such as [[Eurasian otter]], [[European beaver]], [[water vole]], [[harvest mouse]] and [[water shrew]], and birds such as [[Great Bittern]], [[Purple Heron]], [[European Spoonbill]], [[Water Rail]] (and other [[rail]]s), [[Purple Gallinule]], [[Marsh Harrier]], various [[Old World warbler|warbler]]s ([[Reed Warbler]], [[Sedge Warbler]] etc), [[Bearded Reedling]] and [[Reed Bunting]]. [[Image:Reedbeach edit1.JPG|thumb|right|600 px| A previously sandy lake shore colonised by reeds forming a reed bed.]] ==Uses of reed beds== ===Constructed wetlands=== {{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 reed bed is cleaned by [[microorganism]]s living on the root system and in the litter. These utilising the sewage for growth [[nutrient]]s, 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=== [[Image:Harchies RN1gJPG.jpg|thumb|right|Reed bed of Harchies ponds [[Belgium]]|300px]] {{Main article|Treatment pond}} Treatment ponds are small versions of constructed wetlands which uses reed beds or other marshland plants to form an even smaller [[greywater treatment|water treatment system]]. Similar to constructed wetlands, water trickling through the reed bed is cleaned by [[microorganism]]s living on the root system and in the litter. Treatment ponds are used for eg the water treatment of a single house or a small neighbourhood. ==See also== * [[Organisms used in water purification]] [[Category:Ecology]] {{Ecology-stub}} [[de:Röhricht]] [[fr:Roselière]] [[ja:ヨシ原]] [[pl:Szuwar]] [[ro:Stufăriş]] [[ru:Плавни]] [[uk:Плавні]] [[wa:Rozire (ecolodjeye)]]