Question

a local ecosystem includes a variety of grasses that grow on spongy soil. in spring, heavy rainfall and melted snow cover the soil in a few inches of water. the ecosystem dries up by late summer. what term best describes this ecosystem?
a. pond
b. estuary
c. wetland
d. stream bed

Explanation:

To determine the ecosystem, we analyze each option:

• Option A (pond): Ponds typically have standing water year - round or for long periods, and the soil isn't described as spongy, so this is incorrect.
• Option B (estuary): Estuaries are areas where freshwater and saltwater mix, usually near coasts, and don't have the described grass - spongy soil - seasonal water pattern, so this is incorrect.
• Option C (wetland): Wetlands have spongy soil (peaty or mucky), can have seasonal water (like filling in spring and drying in late summer), and support grass - like vegetation. This matches the description.
• Option D (stream bed): Stream beds have flowing water and different soil/vegetation characteristics, not spongy soil with seasonal drying as described, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

C. wetland