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A simplified definition of wetland is "an area of land that is usually saturated with water". [14] More precisely, wetlands are areas where "water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season". [15]
Wetland [16] Goodall (1974–) ecosystem types ... (XX is the biogeographic realm, nn is the biome number, NN is the individual number). Biogeographic realms ...
The Wetlands Geodatabase is one of the world's largest polygonal datasets (in the civilian sector). The information is increasingly popular and widely used to help identify, conserve, and restore wetland resources across the American landscape. During 2008, the number of website user requests for data exceeded 56.9 million.
Alaska is the most biodiverse state with 15 ecoregions across three biomes in the same realm. California comes in a close second with 13 ecoregions across four biomes in the same realm. By contrast, Rhode Island is the least biodiverse with just one ecoregion—the Northeastern coastal forests —encompassing the entire state.
The Ramsar classification of wetland types is intended as a means for fast identification of the main types of wetlands for the purposes of the convention. [2] The wetlands are classified into three major classes: Marine/coastal wetlands; Inland wetlands; Human-made wetlands
The result is a large number of wetland classification systems that each define wetlands and wetland types in their own way. [1] However, many classification systems include four broad categories that most wetlands fall into: marsh , swamp, bog , and fen. [ 1 ]
Wetlands exist on every continent, except Antarctica. [19] The water in wetlands is either freshwater, brackish or saltwater. [18] The main types of wetland are defined based on the dominant plants and the source of the water. For example, marshes are wetlands dominated by emergent herbaceous vegetation such as reeds, cattails and sedges.
A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem. 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 .