biogeography
concepts
landforms
surface water
Wetlands are areas in which shallow standing water or saturated soil occurs for a period long enough or with enough regularity to influence the development of biotic assemblages and/or soil characteristics. Wetlands can be fresh, brackish or saline, can be inland or coastal, can be connected to or isolated from other aquatic systems, and are generally shallow enough to support rooted vegetation that emerges from the water surface, even if that vegetation is not present at all times. [Source: Encyclopedia of Environment and Society; Wetlands]
wetlands