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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.
Wetlands can be tidal (inundated by tides) or non-tidal. [15] The water in wetlands is either freshwater, brackish, saline, or alkaline. [2] There are four main kinds of wetlands – marsh, swamp, bog, and fen (bogs and fens being types of peatlands or mires). Some experts also recognize wet meadows and aquatic ecosystems as additional wetland ...
A freshwater swamp forest is a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by its unique hydrology and vegetation. These forests are typically found in low-lying areas, riverbanks, and floodplains where there is a consistent supply of freshwater. [3]
An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem found in and around a body of water, in contrast to land-based terrestrial ecosystems. Aquatic ecosystems contain communities of organisms—aquatic life—that are dependent on each other and on their environment. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems. [1]
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
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. Wetlands play a ...
The Mesopotamian Marshlands were once the largest wetland ecosystem in the Middle East, covering an area of 15,000 to 20,000 square kilometers. [27] In the 1980s and 1990s, this marshland was drained by upstream dams and water control structures, down to 10% of the original area. [27]
The CWCS has a hierarchical structure which is composed of wetland class, wetland form, and wetland type. [9] [10] The broadest category is the wetland class which recognizes the genetic origin of each specific wetland ecosystem. [8] This consists of bogs, fens, swamps, marshes, and shallow waters. [9]