Types of Wetlands

A narrower scientific definition (and the most commonly accepted one) would limit wetlands to areas in which there are plants. This type of wetland is usually much higher in soil organic matter than those without emergent plants. This is due to the high production of plant biomass and the slow rate of organic matter decomposition, because of the limited supply of oxygen in the wet soil. 

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St. Louis VL, Rudd JWM, Kelly CA, Beaty KG, Flett RJ, Roulet NT. 1996. Production and loss of methylmercury and loss of total mercury from boreal forest catchments containing different types of wetlands. Environ Sci Technol 30 2719-2729. 

This chapter is concerned with the different types of wetland soil as sources, sinks and transformers of nutrients, particular nutrient deficiencies and mineral toxicides that commonly arise following submergence, and the fate of pollutants that are commonly added to submerged soils, both accidentally and intentionally. 

What are the major types of wetlands Distinguish or identify the differences. 

A type of wetland that accumulates peat deposits they are less acidic than bogs, deriving most of their water from groundwater rich in calcium and magnesium. 

A type of wetland that does not accumulate appreciable peat deposits and is dominated by herbacious vegetation. Marshes may be fresh- or saltwater, tidal or nontidal. mass balance... 

As a result of these uncertainties, the acmal contribution of wetlands to the atmospheric methane budget is even more poorly known than the factor-of-two that is usually quoted (Cicerone and Oremland, 1988). Another important consideration is that the areal extent of various types of wetlands worldwide is only known to a factor of two (Aselmann and Crutzen, 1989 Fung et al, 1991 Chapman, 1977). Bartlett et al. (1989) have discussed the large variations of methane fluxes measured from adjacent but diverse wetlands (Everglades) and the related problems of estimating a global wetland flux. Thus, the uncertainty in methane emissions from wetlands may vary by a factor of two or three. 

Mitsch, W. J. and J. G. Gosselink. 2007. Wetlands, 4th ed. New York John Wiley Sons. The fourth edition, this standard textbook is more international in scope and has been expanded in other areas. It includes information about all types of wetlands, and chapters on wetland law and regulation and wetland delineation. 

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