Wetlands mineral-rich

The Amblystegiaceae, as traditionally circumscribed, consists of between 120 and 170 species. These are most likely the most important mosses in relatively mineral-rich to calcareous wetlands in temperate to polar environments. They are also abundant in many other humid habitats of the temperate zones, as well as in wetlands at high altitudes in tropical and subtropical areas (cf., Hedenas, 1999,2003a). Because of their importance and widespread occurrence in wetland habitats... 

As summarized by Jacobson (1994), biological Fe(III) reduction will be more important than chemical reduction when amorphous Fe(IIl) oxides are plentiful and continually regenerated, or H2S production is low relative to the Fe(III) concentration. This first condition is likely to be met in the rhizosphere where radial O2 loss drives Fe oxide formation. The second condition will be met in low-salinity wetlands, or in saline systems with mineral (i.e., iron-rich) sediments. However, even chemical reduction of Fe(III) is ultimately due to microbes since the H2S that reduces the Fe is the result of a biological process, SO4" reduction (Megonigal et al., 2004). 

In wetlands, river loads originate within the organo-mineral compartment. Therefore, the rivers are rich in nutrients. But in numerous cases, especially in cold climates, the acidity of the water does not allow the development of an important aquatic biomass and wildlife. 

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