Summary
Wetlands filter water, store carbon, buffer floods and support rich biodiversity.
In depth
Types: marshes, swamps, bogs, fens. Waterlogged soils are anoxic; hydrophytes have aerenchyma. Wetlands mitigate floods and filter nutrients but release methane. About 35 percent lost since 1970.
Hydrology is the master variable. Peatlands store carbon over millennia. Draining wetlands releases CO2 and degrades water filtering.
Remember: wetlands can be both carbon sinks and methane sources.
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is near the surface, for much of the year: marshes, swamps, bogs, fens and mangroves. Waterlogged, low-oxygen soils (hydric soils) select for adapted plants (hydrophytes) such as reeds, sedges and cypress.
Wetlands filter nutrients and pollutants, store floodwater, recharge groundwater, store large amounts of carbon (peatlands hold about 30 percent of soil carbon) and support rich wildlife, including migratory birds. About 35 percent of wetlands have been lost since 1970. The Ramsar Convention protects important sites.
Example: constructed wetlands treat wastewater cheaply.
Frequently asked questions
What is Wetland Ecology?
Wetlands filter water, store carbon, buffer floods and support rich biodiversity.
Which area of biology covers Wetland Ecology, and how advanced is it?
Wetland Ecology is one of the 54 topics in Marine & Environmental Biology. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Blue Carbon, Deforestation, Mangroves.
Why does Wetland Ecology matter?
Draining peatlands releases large amounts of CO2 and is a major emissions source.
Can you give an example of Wetland Ecology?
The Ramsar Convention protects wetlands of international importance.
What should I learn before Wetland Ecology?
Work through the Beginner topics in Marine & Environmental Biology first, such as Oceans, Ocean Zones, Plankton, then return to Wetland Ecology. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
What topics are related to Wetland Ecology?
The closest topics to Wetland Ecology are Blue Carbon, Deforestation, Mangroves, Estuaries. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Wetland Ecology?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Wetland Ecology. To practise the whole of Marine & Environmental Biology, use the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz.
How is Wetland Ecology different from Blue Carbon?
Wetland Ecology: Wetlands filter water, store carbon, buffer floods and support rich biodiversity. Blue Carbon: Carbon stored in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Wetland Ecology step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Blue Carbon and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Marine & Environmental Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.