| Acromantula
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 30,857
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Stiffi Scholz
Second Year  x8
|  Wibbly Wobbly | Timey Wimey
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hera  SPOILER!!: Responses
"Very good," she nodded... though it sounded as though the girl was reading it from a book. Fancy that.
"Yes, absolutely." That made perfect sense, of course.
"Yes, very good... they also serve another purpose but we'll get to that later."
Seren almost laughed. "Good duduction."
"That's correct."
"Fresh water swamps... yes, correct," she mused.
Seren's gaze passed over Oakey. He was quiet. She only hoped he wasn't having a mental breakdown, otherwise she would have to insist he drop her class... the boys fear was, unnatural.
Also a bright young lad. Perhaps he and Daichi shared a dorm? Because they were clearly on the same wavelength. "Yes, very good."
Well this girl wasn't so good with sticking to a single characteristic, was she?
"Yes, adaption, that's a very good point," she replied, deciding to focus on the girls comment about salt tolerance.
Spike. Was on a roll today, and she liked how he commented on their similarities. "Well said Spike."
"Generally speaking... yes, though some are dominated by tall grasses." It was all about location, location, location.
Arching an eyebrow in response to Theodore's response, Seren observed him. Was he alright? He wasn't about to puke or anything was he?
"Dirt, unless specified is not a characteristic." The boy probably had dirt on his shoe...
Seren considered the Badger's response. Nodding in agreement.. "Usually," she emphasised.
Seren nodded, "yes, and that's due to the moisture.." because obviously swamps were wet.
"Oh heavens no." No. The school couldn't justify that.
Seren nodded, "It goes by many names, including wetlands, bogs, marshes, bottomland, fen, mangrove, moor and the list goes on. These may vary from culture to culture and scientifically, as they generally have a distinct characteristic which sets them apart."
Seren nodded. Very good.
"Mmm yes, but I wouldn't call that a characteristic, and certainly not one which separates fresh water swamps from salt water swamps."
0___o Was that all she had to offer?
"Thank you for your opinion... It's been most helpful."
Yes, she used sarcasm... it felt good... she rarely used sarcasm.
"Most... not all."
"Correct, very good," she replied, nodding. "And they serve another purpose as well.." which they'd get to soon enough.
"Of course they'd be different. The salinity in salt water swamps inhibits the ability for typical fresh water swamp plants and animals to grow... so naturally those that inhabit salt water swamps are designed or adapted to cope and thrive in those conditions."
"Well your sister is a bright young lady," she replied nodding, "that's absolutely correct."
"Fresh water swamps," she specified, "yes."
"No. Swamps may occur anywhere there is a large body of water. Anywhere from Scotland to Australia.. and they're certainly not equatorial."
"They are... but they're not the characteristics we're looking for."
"Rain, yes... particularly through seasonal flooding but also through drainage."
"Yes, very good."
The abruptness of the Gryffindor's response startled her. Shrivel up and die? Well... she wasn't wrong.
"Yes... which then tells us that some plants and animals have adapted to salty conditions."
"In this case it's less so oxygen, and more to the salinity levels. But yes, very good."
"They are, very good."
Was Dylan attempting to out do his peers? By offering more than a single characteristic.. hhmm..
"Slow moving, yes.." she replied, nodding, focusing on a single aspect of his answer.
"Generally... no. But never underestimate a swamp, there are some deep ones, ones that could, surprise you."
A pensive Lion... Seren smiled to herself before moving on.
Swamp thing?
Seren simply nodded, agreeing with what she understood of the Ravenclaw's answer.
"Very good. Generally people use the terms interchangeably, depending on cultural backgrounds and so forth...but they do have their own distinct characteristics which sets them apart from the others."
"Yes, very good Ethan."
Bird doodoo. Well that was one way of putting it.
"Absolutely, very good," she nodded her approval.
Seren wasn't sure she liked students interfering by correcting their peers... on the other hand, it was collaborative learning... and she hadn't been incorrect. Hhmm. She'd let it slide this time.
"Insects, yes, very good." Moisture attracts and all that jazz.
"Yes! Very good... these are called adaptions or specifications, it's like considering the progress of life, we evolve, we become stronger, adapt to our environment."
"Exactly right... the plants that do enjoy the salinity do so because they have adapted to the conditions over time."
"This is the real deal," she replied nodding, or at least, it was the real deal to the best of her knowledge. Heck it had been there when she was student. "Magic... knows little bounds," she said by way of explanation.
She wasn't an expert on creating these things, she was an expert in understanding naturally occurring ones, their roles, functions, care requirements and so forth...
Seren nodded as Oichi touched on the adaptation characteristic.
Good. Good... this was progress. "Good effort, all of you," she started, but to ensure they all got these notes down, she would reiterate. "So in terms of salt water swamps... we know they are found in tidal zones, often on tropical coastlines where there is more torrential rainfall and tidal flooding. The wildlife are specific to these regions due to their adaptation to salinity, mangroves, fish, crocodiles and sea birds to name a few, are common inhabitants. Bird droppings fertilise and deliver nutrients to the swamp water which then leaches down to the root systems... and it's a great location for spawning." They all knew what spawning was right? Because she was not about to explain that one.
Fresh water, was probably her favourite. Stealing a gaze at the Weasley Swamp, she admired it before turning her attention back to the students. "Fresh water swamps are found inland, they form around lakes and rivers and are usually the product of heavy rain and seasonal flooding... they have low levels of salinity which is the primary characteristic that separates it from salt water swamps..." "There are a few characteristics, which are applicable to both. Firstly, insects.. they thrive in conditions with high moisture, secondly, the water is more often than not , slow moving." She paused to ensure they were all getting this down. "This moisture also supports the growth of algae and lichens in the area.. and lastly, swamps are generally characterised with the presence of large or thick growths of trees, shrubs or high grasses. These are in fact, another adaption... as they trap the sediments so that the water doesn't wash them away and erode the swamps geography." "Now there's a couple more things we need to go through before our final activity."
Seren paused briefly to take the opportunity to check the time on her pendant watch, and then continued. "Now we've identified numerous characteristics, but can anyone hazard a guess what type of magical plants are best known to inhabit swamps? Any ideas?" OOC: ONE IDEA ONLY PLEASE (each). The lesson will continue in approximately 17 hours. (: Taylor went beet-red. She sighed and messed with her hair, trying to focus on the lesson and not her stupid mistake. Tay frowned and thought it. Taylor raised her head, "Professor... I might be wrong again but would perhaps gillyweed grow in swamps?" Tay grew silent again and glanced down.
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