Wetland

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Wetland

Wetland (/ˈwɛtlənd/) is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil.

Etymology

The term "wetland" comes from the Old English "wæt" (wet) and "land" (land). It was first used in the 1660s to describe land that was submerged in water.

Types of Wetlands

There are four main kinds of wetlands – marsh, swamp, bog and fen. Some experts also recognize wet meadows and aquatic ecosystems as additional types of wetlands.

  • Marsh: A type of wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species. Marshes can often be found at the edges of lakes and streams, where they form a transition between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
  • Swamp: A wetland that features permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water, generally with a substantial number of hummocks, or dry-land protrusions.
  • Bog: A wetland that accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses, and in a majority of cases, sphagnum moss.
  • Fen: A type of wetland fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater. Fens are characterised by their water chemistry, which is neutral or alkaline, with high nutrient levels.

Related Terms

  • Hydric Soil: A soil that is saturated, flooded or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.
  • Aquatic Plants: Also called hydrophytes or macrophytes, these are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments.
  • Ecosystem: A community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system.

External links

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