Question

George's Coastal Pines region includes about 60% of the state. long ago this area was part of the Atlantic Ocean and completely covered by water. a unique Wetland feature of the Southeastern coastal plain is the Carolina bay. Carolina bays are oval shaped wetlands found from Maryland South to georgia. some support permanent Lakes While others experience more irregular water levels. Carolina Bays range from 6 to 30 ft deep and from several acres to 6,000 acres in size . due to varying water levels, the vegetation differs dramatically from one Bay to another. some are characterized by Cypress forest, other others Marsh and some shrub bugs. Georgia is home to more than 1,000 Carolina bays, covering 250,000 acres.

the benefits of wetlands are hard to overestimate. all but one is the benefit of a wetland such as the Carolina bays. that is:
a. they filter and clean water as well, absorbing toxins and other pollutants.
b. they provide Rich farmland and are a source of fuel when the water is drained from the area
c. they absorb and store vast quantities of stormwater, helping reduce floods and recharge aquifers
d. they provide critical habitat for many plant and animal species that could not survive another habitats. ​

Answer 1

Wetlands such as the Carolina Bays clean water, absorb stormwater to reduce floods, and provide habitats for diverse species. However, while they can be transformed into farmland when drained, this is not a natural benefit and is detrimental to their ecological functions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The benefits of wetlands like the Carolina Bays are indeed vast and vital to the ecosystem. Option (a), which states they 'filter and clean water as well, absorbing toxins and other pollutants,' is absolutely a benefit of wetlands. Similarly, option (c), 'they absorb and store vast quantities of stormwater, helping reduce floods and recharge aquifers' is another critical role these wetlands play in managing stormwater and flood control. The fourth option (d) accurately details that wetlands provide 'critical habitat for many plant and animal species that could not survive another habitats.' However, option (b) is slightly misleading. While drained wetlands can offer fertile land for agriculture, this is not a natural benefit of wetlands. Furthermore, draining wetlands destroys their ecological function and thus is not considered a benefit but a trade-off for human land use purposes.