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1
Zuo, Jin, and Qin Yan. "Recycling Inter-Feed Relationship between Wetlands’ Protective Using and Eco-Town Construction." Advanced Materials Research 361-363 (October 2011): 1085–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.361-363.1085.
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As the wetlands has decreased and degenerated badly due to human’s excessive use, it becomes to be a hotspot in international academe’s forefield to resume and rebuild wetlands. Simply opposing protection to using can effectively ease up the stress of wetland’s degradation in a short term, but is disadvantageous to wetland’s sustainable development. This article takes Tianjin Qilihai wetland as example, aiming at its existing problems, sums up two kinds of infection genes – exterior representation and interior motivation, and intensively analyzes the sticking point from three aspects – economic, acknowledgement and mechanism. It suggests that basing on the idea of accretion and co-prosperity, we can divide wetland area into three zone – core zone, buffer zone and experimental zone, and then let the interior dispersive inhabitants and production activities move out to the intensively constructed eco-town. Thus we can make scientific use of wetland’s economical value and promote circumjacent industries’ transformation. Moreover, by the recycling use of water on a model of source separation combined with wetland classification, the quantity of regenerated water would reach 18.25 million cubic meters. By the Low Impact Development (LID) strategies in the control and use of rainfall and flood, the quantity of rainwater for use would reach 8.62 million cubic meters per year. In this way, the wetlands’ ecological conservation would obtain regurgitation-feeding, the construction of eco-town would be organically combined with protection and using of wetlands, and an effective system of wetlands’ sustainable development and using would be established.
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Boutilier, Leah, Rob Jamieson, Robert Gordon, and Craig Lake. "Transport of Lithium Tracer and E. coli in Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Wetlands." Water Quality Research Journal 43, no. 2-3 (May 1, 2008): 137–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wqrj.2008.017.
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Abstract Agricultural waste must be managed effectively to protect surface and groundwater resources, as well as human health. Constructed wetlands can provide a low-cost environmentally acceptable method for the treatment of agricultural wastewater. An ionic tracer (Lithium chloride [LiCl]) and a biotracer (a naladixic acid-resistant strain of Escherichia coli) were injected into six pilot-scale constructed wetlands treating dairy wastewater: three surface-flow (SF) wetlands and three subsurfaceflow (SSF) wetlands. Each wetland was 3.9-m long and 1.7-m wide. Residence time distribution functions were calculated for each wetland to investigate the hydraulic behaviour of each system during winter and summer conditions. During the summer study, the mean residence times for SF wetlands 2, 4, and 6 were 12, 16, and 14 days, respectively, while the mean residence time for SSF wetlands 1, 3, and 5 were 23, 18, and 22 days, respectively. The longitudinal dispersion coefficients were in the order of 10-6 m2 s-1 for each wetland during the summer and winter. The mean residence time for SF wetlands 2, 4, and 6 during the winter study were 8, 10, and 10 days, respectively, while the mean residence time for SSF wetlands 1, 3, and 5 were 8, 9, and 10 days, respectively. E. coli effluent peaks often occurred prior to Li peaks, suggesting that bacteria may be motile within the wetland environment. This study suggests that dispersion is an important mass transport process in both SF and SSF wetlands. Long-term operation of SF and SSF treatment wetlands may cause reduced retention times and treatment efficiency due to organic matter accumulation and channelling. Cold winter temperatures may also increase the survival of bacteria within treatment wetland systems, decreasing the wetland's ability to reduce bacteria concentrations during the winter months.
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Higgins, James, and Michael Maclean. "Technical Note — The Use of a Very Large Constructed Sub-Surface Flow Wetland to Treat Glycol-Contaminated Stormwater from Aircraft De-Icing Operations." Water Quality Research Journal 37, no. 4 (November 1, 2002): 785–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wqrj.2002.053.
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Abstract All of the pollutants found in stormwater runoff at airports, including surface and aircraft de-icing/anti-icing glycols, can be treated and removed to low levels in well-designed sub-surface flow (SSF) constructed wetland systems. There are two common forms of constructed wetlands used for pollution control: those where water flows over the surface among wetland plants (free water surface or marsh type wetlands); and SSF types where the wastewater flows below the normally dry surface of a gravel substrate in which the wetland plants grow. SSF wetlands have no open water to attract waterfowl and are particularly suitable for use at airports. Of the glycol used at Edmonton International Airport (EIA), 80 to 90% eventually entered surface runoff. Edmonton International Airport's operator, the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority (Edmonton Airports) evaluated a number of glycol management options, including constructed wetlands. As a result, a very large SSF wetland system was installed to handle glycol-contaminated stormwater. This paper reviews results of a feasibility study carried out to define design parameters and scale up kinetics for this wetland system, the detailed design that resulted, the SSF wetland's construction, and the start-up of the Edmonton facilities in August of 2000. It also compares the Edmonton wetland system with a similar facility at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom.
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Frieswyk, Christin B., and Joy B. Zedler. "Do seed banks confer resilience to coastal wetlands invaded by Typha ×glauca?" Canadian Journal of Botany 84, no. 12 (December 2006): 1882–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b06-100.
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Historically, seed banks conferred resilience to Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetlands by providing propagules of many species to replace invasive plants, such as Typha ×glauca Godr. After flooding, the seed bank could allow recovery of wetland composition and structure as the water levels fall. Using the seedling emergence method to estimate seed density, species and guild richness, and floristic quality, we evaluated the resilience of five wetlands along the western coast of Green Bay, Lake Michigan by comparing seed bank attributes in areas invaded by Typha to those of neighboring uninvaded areas and to attributes of the extant vegetation. Resilience decreased from north to south among the five wetlands, mirroring a gradient of decreasing water quality. The invasive Lythrum salicaria L. dominated the seed bank of all five wetlands despite low relative abundance in the extant vegetation. The resilience of Green Bay coastal wetlands is threatened by the overwhelming presence of L. salicaria in the seed bank. Because the seed bank holds a wetland’s potential to be renewed by the natural hydrological cycle, seed bank assessment should be a routine measure of wetland resilience.
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Tangen, Brian A., and Mark T. Wiltermuth. "Prairie Pothole Region Wetlands and Subsurface Drainage Systems: Key Factors for Determining Drainage Setback Distances." Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 9, no. 1 (March 22, 2018): 274–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.3996/092017-jfwm-076.
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Abstract Use of agricultural subsurface drainage systems in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America continues to increase, prompting concerns over potential negative effects to the Region's vital wetlands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protects a large number of wetlands through conservation easements that often utilize standard lateral setback distances to provide buffers between wetlands and drainage systems. Because of a lack of information pertaining to the efficacy of these setback distances for protecting wetlands, information is required to support the decision making for placement of subsurface drainage systems adjacent to wetlands. We used qualitative graphical analyses and data comparisons to identify characteristics of subsurface drainage systems and wetland catchments that could be considered when assessing setback distances. We also compared setback distances with catchment slope lengths to determine if they typically exclude drainage systems from the catchment. We demonstrated that depth of a subsurface drainage system is a key factor for determining drainage setback distances. Drainage systems located closer to the surface (shallow) typically could be associated with shorter lateral setback distances compared with deeper systems. Subsurface drainage systems would be allowed within a wetland's catchment for 44–59% of catchments associated with wetland conservation easements in North Dakota. More specifically, results suggest that drainage setback distances generally would exclude drainage systems from catchments of the smaller wetlands that typically have shorter slopes in the adjacent upland contributing area. For larger wetlands, however, considerable areas of the catchment would be vulnerable to drainage that may affect wetland hydrology. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service easements are associated with > 2,000 km2 of wetlands in North Dakota, demonstrating great potential to protect these systems from drainage depending on policies for installing subsurface drainage systems on these lands. The length of slope of individual catchments and depth of subsurface drainage systems could be considered when prescribing drainage setback distances and assessing potential effects to wetland hydrology. Moreover, because of uncertainties associated with the efficacy of standard drainage setback distances, exclusion of subsurface drainage systems from wetland catchments would be ideal when the goal is to protect wetlands.
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Berninger, Kati, Jari Koskiaho, and Sirkka Tattari. "Constructed wetlands in Finnish agricultural environments: balancing between effective water protection, multi-functionality and socio-economy / Małe sztuczne zbiorniki wodne w krajobrazie rolniczym Finlandii: ochrona jakości wody na tle wielozadaniowych funkcji tych zbiorników i aspektów socjalno-ekonomicznych." Journal of Water and Land Development 17, no. 1 (December 1, 2012): 19–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10025-012-0029-5.
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Abstract This case study summarizes the current knowledge in Finland on the efficiency of constructed wetlands to improve water quality at the same time providing multiple benefits. The efficiency is highly dependent on the wetland’s relative size compared to the upstream catchment area, and on the amount of agricultural land in the upstream catchment. The case study analyses the incentives designed to motivate landowners to construct wetlands in Finland such as the non-productive investment support and the agri-environment payment support for wetland management. Farmers think that the support system is heavy and bureaucratic, and thus the target number of new constructed wetlands is far from being met. Individual projects have been more successful in wetland construction than the official support system. General wetland plans drafted for hotspot areas is an example of enabling factors and strict eligibility rules form one of the barriers of wetland construction identified in this case study. In spite of the criticism of the current wetland incentives, a support system for wetland construction is needed. One option would be to give regional authorities more freedom to select priority areas according to e.g. River Basin Management Plans.
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Gil-Márquez, José Manuel, Bartolomé Andreo, and Matías Mudarra. "Comparative Analysis of Runoff and Evaporation Assessment Methods to Evaluate Wetland–Groundwater Interaction in Mediterranean Evaporitic-Karst Aquatic Ecosystem." Water 13, no. 11 (May 25, 2021): 1482. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13111482.
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This work compares the applicability of several free-surface evaporation and runoff equations in simulating water level variations of small Mediterranean wetlands. The Amarga and Jarales wetland are two pilot sites with an evaporite-karst genesis located in southern Spain. The water level was continuously recorded in both wetlands, and exhaustive weather monitoring was performed. The combined datasets have permitted quantification of the surficial elements of their water budget (precipitation, runoff, and evaporation). Several campaigns of groundwater level measurements were also done to characterize the direction of groundwater flows. The morphometrical analysis of the Jarales wetland was accurately performed based on a LiDAR dataset. A total of 225 limnimetric simulations of the Jarales (90) and Amarga (135) wetlands were performed, combining different evaporation and runoff equations. During the study period, the curve number method, coupled with the Penman equation, reached the Jarales wetland’s best calibrations. The Vardavas–Fountoulakis modification of the Penman model fit better with the Amarga wetland record. The obtained results permit specification of the water budget of both wetlands during several years and confirm that the groundwater–surface water relationship affects the wetland hydric dynamic to different degrees. Nonetheless, the limnimetric models were calibrated for a short period, including dry years, making it necessary to extend the control period longer and validate the models under different hydroclimatic conditions. Finally, the differences between wetland functioning are explained in a conceptual hydrological model that can be useful for wetland conservation and management of related aquatic ecosystems. The understanding of the origin and fate of water in wetlands permits assessment of how future scenarios would affect hydric functioning and suggests adequate conservation measurements.
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Patil, S., and K. Choudaj. "The Importance of Artificial Wetlands in the Conservation of Wetland Birds and the Impact of Land Use Attributes Around the Wetlands: a Study from the Ajara Conservation Reserve, Western Ghats, India." zoodiversity 57, no. 1 (2023): 41–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.15407/zoo2023.01.041.
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Artificial wetlands are built to meet the rising human population's water needs, with little attention paid to their ecological significance. The current study was carried out to assess the importance of artificial wetlands in biodiversity conservation. Habitat quality of wetlands was assessed using the birds as an ecological indicator. Bird surveys were carried out at the five artificial wetlands located in the Ajara conservation reserve, northern Western Ghats, India. Bird surveys were conducted for five years (2011–2015). During the study, 165 bird species were recorded, including 34 wetland birds and 131 wetland-associated birds. Wetlands in forested areas have a higher richness of wetland birds. Wetlands surrounded by exotic plantations, agriculture, and human settlements exhibit lower wetland bird richness than wetlands in forested areas. Land use attributes around the wetlands affect wetland bird diversity. The current study gives a glimpse that these artificial wetlands could serve as a possible habitat for wetland birds.
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Xu, Ting, Baisha Weng, Denghua Yan, Kun Wang, Xiangnan Li, Wuxia Bi, Meng Li, Xiangjun Cheng, and Yinxue Liu. "Wetlands of International Importance: Status, Threats, and Future Protection." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 10 (May 22, 2019): 1818. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101818.
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The 2303 Wetlands of International Importance distribute unevenly in different continents. Europe owns the largest number of sites, while Africa has the largest area of sites. More than half of the sites are affected by three or four impact factors (55%). The most significant impact factors are pollution (54%), biological resources use (53%), natural system modification (53%), and agriculture and aquaculture (42%). The main affected objects are land area and environment of the wetlands, occurred in 75% and 69% of the sites, respectively. The types most affected by land area occupation are river wetlands and lake wetlands, the types with the greatest impact on environment are marine/coastal wetlands and river wetlands, the type with the greatest impact on biodiversity is river wetlands, the types most affected by water resources regulation are marsh wetlands and river wetlands, and the types most affected by climate change are lake wetlands and marine/coastal wetlands. About one-third of the wetland sites have been artificially reconstructed. However, it is found that the proportions of natural wetland sites not affected or affected by only one factor are generally higher than that of wetland sites both containing natural wetlands and human-made wetlands, while the proportions of wetland sites both containing natural wetlands and human-made wetlands affected by three or four factors are generally higher than that of natural wetland sites. Wetland sites in the UK and Ireland are least affected among all countries. Wetland management plans in different regions still have large space for improvement, especially in Africa and Asia. The protection and restoration of global wetlands can be carried out in five aspects, including management and policy, monitoring, restoration, knowledge, and funding.
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Zhang, Yihao, Jianzhong Yan, Xian Cheng, and Xinjun He. "Wetland Changes and Their Relation to Climate Change in the Pumqu Basin, Tibetan Plateau." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 5 (March 7, 2021): 2682. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052682.
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Wetland ecosystems play one of the most crucial roles in the world. Wetlands have the functions of ecological water storage, water supply, and climate regulation, which plays an indispensable role in global environmental security. The Pumqu River Basin (PRB) is located in an area with extremely vulnerable ecological environment, where climate change is obvious. Understanding wetland distribution, changes and causes in the PRB are of great importance to the rational management and protection of wetlands. Using the Landsat series satellite images, wetlands of this area in 2000, 2010, and 2018 were extracted. The results showed that (1) there were obvious regional differences in wetland types and their distribution patterns in the basin. Wetlands were mainly distributed in areas with slopes less than 12° and at elevations between 4000 m and 5500 m. (2) During the past 20 years, the wetland area in the basin decreased, and the changing trend of wetlands was different. Palustrine wetlands decreased tremendously, riverine and lacustrine wetlands first decreased and then increased, while floodplain wetlands first increased and then decreased. Palustrine wetlands were reclaimed to cultivated land, but the proportion of reclamation is small. (3) Climate dominated wetland changes in the PRB. The changes in riverine and lacustrine wetlands were mainly affected by the warm-season average temperature, the change in palustrine wetlands was mainly related to the annual precipitation and the warm-season average temperature, and the change in floodplain wetlands was related to the warm-season precipitation. To achieve sustainable development, the government plays a guiding role and actively formulates and implements wetland protection policies, such as restricting or prohibiting grazing on wetlands, which play an important role in wetland protection and restoration.
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Carberry, Brendan, Tom A. Langen, and Michael R. Twiss. "Surface Water Quality Differs between Functionally Similar Restored and Natural Wetlands of the Saint Lawrence River Valley in New York." Land 10, no. 7 (June 27, 2021): 676. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land10070676.
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We tested the hypothesis that upland wetland restorations provide the same quality of wetland, in terms of ecosystem services and biodiversity, as natural wetlands in the St. Lawrence River Valley. Water quality (pH, alkalinity, colored dissolved organic matter, phytoplankton community composition, chlorophyll-a, fecal coliform, total phosphorus, dissolved nitrate, turbidity, specific conductivity) in 17 natural and 45 restored wetlands was compared to determine whether wetland restoration provided similar physicochemical conditions as natural wetlands in the Saint Lawrence River Valley of northeastern New York State. Natural wetlands were more acidic, which was hypothesized to result from the avoidance of naturally acidic regions by farmers seeking to drain wetlands for crop and pasture use. Natural wetlands had significantly greater fecal coliform concentrations. Restored wetlands had significantly greater specific conductivity and related ions, and this is attributed to the creation of wetlands upon marine clay deposits. Other water quality indicators did not differ between restored and natural wetlands. These findings confirm other research at these same wetlands showing no substantial differences between restored and natural wetlands in major biotic indicators. Thus, we conclude that wetland restoration does result in wetlands that are functionally the same as the natural wetlands they were designed to replicate.
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Zhang, Aiying, Zhixia Ying, Xunyu Hu, and Mingjian Yu. "Phylogenetic Diversity of Wetland Plants across China." Plants 10, no. 9 (September 6, 2021): 1850. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants10091850.
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Accelerating and severe wetland loss has made wetland restoration increasingly important. Current wetland restorations do not take into consideration the ecological adaptability of wetland plants at large scales, which likely affects their long-term restoration success. We explored the ecological adaptability, including plant life forms and phylogenetic diversity, of plants across 28 wetlands in China. We found that perennial herbs were more common than annual herbs, with the proportion of perennial herbs accounting for 40–50%, 45–65%, 45–70%, 50–60%, and 60–80% of species in coastal wetlands, human-made wetlands, lake wetlands, river wetlands, and marsh wetlands, respectively. A ranking of phylogenetic diversity indices (PDIs) showed an order of marsh < river < coastal < lake < human-made, meaning that human-made wetlands had the highest phylogenetic diversity and marsh wetlands had the lowest phylogenetic diversity. The nearest taxon index (NTI) was positive in 23 out of 28 wetlands, indicating that species were phylogenetically clustered in wetland habitats. Dominant species tended to be distantly related to non-dominant species, as were alien invasive species and native species. Our study indicated that annual herbs and perennial herbs were found in different proportions in different types of wetlands and that species were phylogenetically clustered in wetland habitats. To improve wetland restoration, we suggest screening for native annual herbs and perennial herbs in proportions that occur naturally and the consideration of the phylogenetic similarity to dominant native species.
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Kai Xu, Chunfang Kong, Gang Liu, Chonglong Wu, Hongbin Deng, Yi Zhang, and Qianlai Zhuang. "Changes of urban wetlands in Wuhan, China, from 1987 to 2005." Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment 34, no. 2 (March 30, 2010): 207–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0309133309360626.
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Urban wetlands play a significant role in the sustainable development of the urban eco-environment. However, accelerated urbanization has caused rapid changes in urban wetland landscape patterns, which may seriously affect their functions. Based on land-use maps, TM images, and field data from the Wuhan wetlands, the spatiotemporal evolution and wetland landscape pattern were quantitatively analyzed, with reference to landscape ecology indices of diversity, fragmentation, dominance, shape, and dimension. The results showed that: (1) the natural wetland area decreased: lake wetlands and marsh wetlands decreased by 18.71% and 50.3% from 1987 to 2005, respectively; (2) artificial wetland area increased by 47.75% in Wuhan over the same period; (3) the lake wetland area of Wuhan declined due to the conversion of large lakes to smaller ones; (4) the value of the diversity index (H), evenness index (E), and fragmentation index (F) decreased, while the value of the dominance index (D) increased from 1987 to 2005; (5) the landscape shape index (LSI) and fractal dimension (FD) of the river wetlands, lake wetlands, bottomland wetlands, and marsh wetlands decreased, while the LSI and FD of the reservoir and pond wetlands increased from 1987 to 2005; and (6) natural, societal, and economic, as well as human, activities are major factors for the structural changes in the Wuhan wetland landscape, as revealed by canonical correlation analysis. Results suggest that the ecological environment of urban wetlands should be protected to maximize the services of urban wetland ecosystems in Wuhan, China.
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Durai, A. Job Martin, S. Kalavathy, V. Gokula, and A. Muthukrishnan. "Identification of potential wetlands in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu, India." International Journal of Environment 3, no. 1 (February 28, 2014): 78–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9944.
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Wetland maps are prerequisites for wetland inventory, development, planning, management, protection, and restoration, for conservation of wetland-dependent flora, fauna and humans. It is estimated that 15.26 million hectares exists as wetlands in India according to Space Application Centre (SAC), pertaining to wetlands having more than 56 hectares area. Past research on wetland conservation in the country has shown that micro-wetlands (satellite wetlands) around a bigger wetland act as constellation of habitat mosaic for resident and migratory waterfowls. Often, the size of these micro-wetlands is much smaller than 50 hectares. Therefore, there is a great need to map such wetlands (smaller than 50 hectares). The Tiruchirappalli district, situated in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, is selected for the present investigation to identify the potential wetlands through geo-spatial technology (GIS & RS). All the wetlands within the Tiruchirappalli district have been demarcated from 1973 applying temporal remote sensing data. A total of 2399 wetlands of various size categories have been identified in the Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu, India. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9944 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 78-84
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Gilbert, Nicolas, Roberta Fulthorpe, and Andrea E. Kirkwood. "Microbial diversity, tolerance, and biodegradation potential of urban wetlands with different input regimes." Canadian Journal of Microbiology 58, no. 7 (July 2012): 887–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/w2012-066.
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Though microbial transformations are the primary mechanism of contaminant attenuation in wetlands, much remains to be known about microbial communities in urban wetlands. In this study, the microbial communities from urban wetlands with different runoff regimes (i.e., a contaminated remnant wetland, a constructed wetland, and a remnant wetland) were assessed for their capacity to attenuate and tolerate typical urban runoff pollutants. Results from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA genes showed relatively high similarity in community composition among the wetlands. Community-level physiological profiles had similar results but exhibited within-site variation in both the contaminated remnant and remnant wetlands. All wetland communities were less tolerant to copper than 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; however, the contaminated remnant wetland had the highest tolerance. All study wetlands had a limited capacity to biodegrade model chlorinated aromatic compounds (e.g., 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 3-chlorobenzoate). Though having different input regimes and contaminant exposure histories, the study wetlands were generally similar with respect to microbial community diversity and function. Additionally, the generally low capacity for these wetlands to biodegrade mobile chlorinated organic contaminants offers preliminary insight into the limited ecosystem services these wetlands may provide in urban environments.
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Im, Ran-Young, Taekyu Kim, Chung-Yeol Baek, Chang-Su Lee, Song-Hyun Kim, Jung-Hwan Lee, Ji Yoon Kim, and Gea-Jae Joo. "The influence of surrounding land cover on wetland habitat conditions: a case study of inland wetlands in South Korea." PeerJ 8 (May 18, 2020): e9101. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9101.
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Wetland ecosystems have been globally degraded and lost due to rapid urbanization and climate change. An assessment of national scale inventory, including wetland types and conditions, is urgently required to understand the big picture of endangered wetlands, such as where they are and how they look like. We analyzed the spatial patterns of each inland wetland type (brackish wetland was included) in South Korea and the relative importance of land cover categories on wetland conditions. The wetlands were grouped into four dominant types (riverine, lake, mountain, and human-made) according to their topography. Riverine wetlands constituted the largest area (71.3%). The relative ratio of wetlands in a well-conserved condition (i.e., “A” rank) was highest in riverine wetlands (23.8%), followed by mountain wetlands (22.1%). The higher proportion of grasslands was related to a better condition ranking, but the increasing bareland area had a negative impact on wetland conditions. We also found that wetlands located near wetland protected areas tend to be in a better condition compared to remote sites. Our results further support the importance of the condition of surrounding areas for wetland conservation.
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Peng, Yan Dong, and Jing Yue Wang. "Study on the Loss and Degradation and Sustainable Development Countermeasures of the Coastal Wetlands in Qinhuangdao." Applied Mechanics and Materials 361-363 (August 2013): 1016–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.361-363.1016.
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Qinhuangdao coastal wetland is the distribution of China's most representative of the sandy coastal wetlands, and its main wetland types are sandy coast wetland, rocky coast wetland, estuarine wetland, lake wetland, shallow sea wetland and artificial wetland. Under the influence of natural factors and human factors, coastal wetlands degradation constantly. Land reclamation, city and port development, pollution, coastal erosion and excessive use of coastal biologic resource are considered as the main factors to the degradation of the coastal wetlands. Based on the analysis the main factors contributing to the loss and degradation of the coastal wetlands and the characteristics of wetland degradation, sustainable development countermeasures are suggested in this paper.
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Baguma, Christopher, and Alex Barakagira. "Effects of Wetland Degradation on Community Livelihoods: A Case of Mabengere Wetland in Kisiita Sub County, Kakumiro District, Uganda." Journal of Global Ecology and Environment 19, no. 1 (September 29, 2023): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.56557/jogee/2023/v19i18396.
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Wetlands in Uganda play vital ecological, economic, socio-cultural, scientific and recreational purposes and yet they are currently threatened by anthropogenic and bio geophysical factors. The current study was initiated to determine the drivers of wetland degradation; and to assess the benefits and costs as a result of wetland degradation, to members of the local community in Kakumiro district, Uganda. A cross sectional research design that involved the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data from three hundred and eighty-seven respondents was used. Data were collected using a questionnaire, Key informant interview guide from the key informants and observation check list. Key findings revealed that sand and clay mining, agricultural activities, gathering building materials were the key activities carried out, which significantly affected the wetlands at P<0.05. In addition, the activities carried out in the wetlands significantly improved the livelihoods of the people living around them at P<0.05. The water levels in the wetlands were reduced that led to shortage of portable water and the water for watering animals, and also led to outbreak of fires which contributed to a reduction in the wetland’s biodiversity. This was confirmed by the Chi-square test which revealed that degradation of wetlands contributed to the costs incurred by members of the local community at P<0.05. It was therefore recommended that alternative sources of energy and building materials be availed like planting of upland trees. Also, there should be awareness intensification to members of the local community about the values and uses of wetlands aimed at scaling down their degradation.
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Li, Yangli, Gaoyuan Wang, Tian Chen, and Erli Zeng. "Spatial Planning Strategies for Wetlands Based on a Multimethod Approach: The Example of Tianjin in China." Water 15, no. 19 (September 25, 2023): 3356. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w15193356.
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Wetlands form a crucial component of ecosystems, and wetland restoration serves as an effective strategy for promoting sustainable urban development. Spatial support is essential for wetland restoration, meaning that research on wetland spatial planning is of considerable importance. Existing studies on wetland spatial planning primarily focus on the analysis of wetland spatial distribution characteristics, with limited exploration of wetland spatial relationships. This paper aims to explore the potential of utilizing both spatial distribution characteristics and spatial relationships to identify wetland spatial issues, thereby facilitating the formulation of wetland spatial planning strategies. Using Tianjin City as a case study, this research applies nearest neighbor analysis, the geographic concentration index, the Gini index, and kernel density analysis to identify the spatial distribution characteristics of wetlands in Tianjin. Additionally, spatial autocorrelation analysis and connectivity analysis are employed to identify the interrelationships among wetlands in Tianjin. Based on the results derived from the analysis of spatial distribution characteristics and spatial relationships, wetland spatial planning strategies are proposed. The effectiveness of these strategies is validated using methods that consider both spatial distribution characteristics and spatial relationships. The findings reveal that, although wetlands in Tianjin are widely distributed, large wetland patches are primarily concentrated in areas with abundant water resources, while the six districts within the city have few or no large patches of wetlands. The spatial distribution of wetlands is highly uneven, exhibiting patterns of high–high aggregation and low–low aggregation. The number of connecting paths between wetland patches is relatively low, indicating a generally low overall connectivity. While medium-sized and larger wetland patches maintain the connectivity of existing wetlands in Tianjin, small wetlands that serve as stepping stones are lacking. Following the implementation of planning strategies, there would be an increase in the wetland area in Tianjin, accompanied by significant improvements in the spatial distribution pattern and spatial relationships of the wetlands.
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LI, DONGLAI, SIHANG CHEN, HUW LLOYD, SHUYU ZHU, KAI SHAN, and ZHENGWANG ZHANG. "The importance of artificial habitats to migratory waterbirds within a natural/artificial wetland mosaic, Yellow River Delta, China." Bird Conservation International 23, no. 2 (April 8, 2013): 184–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270913000099.
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SummaryAnthropogenic conversion of natural wetlands into artificial wetland habitats has produced complex wetland landscapes worldwide. In this study we investigated the responses of migratory and wintering waterbirds to five artificial wetland habitats (aquaculture ponds, paddyfields, irrigation canals, open water reservoirs and saltpans) within a novel natural-artificial wetland landscape, Yellow River Delta (YRD), eastern China from October 2007 to May 2008. The results showed that almost all bird community indicators in the YRD natural wetlands were higher than those in adjacent artificial wetlands. Across the landscape, natural wetlands remained most important for all waterbird guilds, and more than 90% of waterbird populations were dependent on these habitats. Artificial wetlands mainly provided a secondary role, supporting about 70% of waterbird species (including six species that reached 1% of their global or biogeographical flyway populations), but with distinctive functional capacity for specific waterbird guilds in different artificial wetlands. The conservation value of artificial wetlands is often ephemeral, mainly during autumn, for specific migratory waterbirds and complements that of remaining areas of natural wetlands. Therefore, the utilisation patterns of artificial wetlands are highly temporal and the majority of species are dependent on areas of natural wetland. A comprehensive study of the inter-seasonal and inter-annual variations in these different habitats and dependence by the various guilds in the YRD is required to enable the true value of these habitats to be understood. We suggest that the conservation of artificial wetlands should not be at the expense of natural wetlands, which should remain the priority for wetland landscape management. Management to maintain the existing artificial wetlands for migrating and wintering water birds should target habitat features that are absent or limited in natural wetlands thus increasing the carrying capacity of the YRD landscape.
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Mitchell, Todd. "Native Uses of Wetlands and Natural Resources Planning: The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community's Wetlands Cultural Assessment." Practicing Anthropology 27, no. 1 (January 1, 2005): 11–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.17730/praa.27.1.0m16543050n28544.
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Wetlands are defined based upon the presence of three essential characteristics: hydrophytic vegetation; hydric soils; and wetland hydrology. Wetland inventory and wetland habitat assessments are conducted in areas where wetlands need to be identified and ranked for regulatory protection measures. Typically the following methods are used: 1) identify wetlands through existing resources and produce a preliminary wetland inventory, 2) field verify wetlands, 3) assess wetland functions and values, and 4) develop watershed ranking. In order to evaluate and assess the relative importance or level to which a wetland performs a specific function, a functional assessment of the field-verified wetlands is conducted. Detailed scientific knowledge of wetland functions, sometimes known as functions and values, is often limited, so that evaluations of the functions of individual wetlands are qualitative and largely dependent upon professional judgment. Wetland functional valuations are still an evolving science. Therefore, better methods for valuations are being researched but until such methods are in general use by the scientific research community, the current and possibly inaccurate methods are in use.
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Davidson, Nick C., and C. Max Finlayson. "Extent, regional distribution and changes in area of different classes of wetland." Marine and Freshwater Research 69, no. 10 (2018): 1525. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf17377.
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We compiled available data and information on the global and regional areas (Ramsar regions), and changes in area, of 22 classes of marine or coastal and inland wetlands. From those classes for which there is information, inland natural surface wetlands (forming ~77% of total surface wetland extent) are dominated by non-forested peatlands, marshes and swamps on alluvial soils, with peatlands forming ~33% of natural inland wetlands. The smaller area of marine or coastal wetlands (~10% of total wetland extent) is dominated by unvegetated tidal flats and saltmarshes. Largest areas of human-made wetlands for which there is information are rice paddy and water storage bodies, with a much smaller area of tropical oil palm and pulpwood plantations. These human-made wetlands are all increasing in area. The reported decline in global natural wetland area is occurring across almost all classes of inland and marine or coastal natural wetlands. Total global wetland area estimated from these wetland classes is between 15.2×106 and 16.2×106km2, similar to recent global wetland area estimates derived from remote sensing. Given the considerable data gaps for area of wetland classes, even the most recent other estimates of global wetland extent are likely to be underestimates.
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Stenert, Cristina, and Leonardo Maltchik. "Influence of area, altitude and hydroperiod on macroinvertebrate communities in southern Brazil wetlands." Marine and Freshwater Research 58, no. 11 (2007): 993. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf07073.
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Wetlands are important ecosystems in southern Brazil because they show high productivity and biological diversity. However, conservative data indicate that ~90% of the wetlands have disappeared as a result of agricultural expansion. In this sense, the understanding of species composition and richness patterns in fragmented and natural wetlands is a priority for biodiversity conservation strategies. The main goal of the present study was to determine how much variation in macroinvertebrate richness and composition is explained by wetland area, hydroperiod and altitude. This survey was carried out in an extensive area of the Neotropical region (~280000 km2 – southern Brazil) with a large number of wetland systems (72) and covering a wide gradient of altitude and wetland surface area. The macroinvertebrate richness was higher in permanent wetlands than intermittent ones, and intermittent wetlands supported a macroinvertebrate composition that clearly differed from those of permanent wetlands. Macroinvertebrate richness was positively affected by wetland area; however, this relationship was significant only in permanent wetlands. There is a need to promote conservation of all wetland systems in southern Brazil, regardless of their hydroperiod and area. These arguments are essential to develop conservation and management programs of wetlands in this region.
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Ma, Tao, Yandi She, Li Zhao, Bixia Hu, Xueke Feng, Jing Zhao, and Zhizhong Zhao. "Alpine Wetland Evolution and Their Response to Climate Change in the Yellow-River-Source National Park from 2000 to 2020." Water 14, no. 15 (July 29, 2022): 2351. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14152351.
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Clarifying the response of wetland changes to climate change can improve the scientific conservation and utilization capabilities of wetland ecosystems, which is vital for their sustainable development. In this study, the spatial distribution and area changes of the different types of wetlands in the Yellow-River-Source National Park (YRSNP) were obtained using the object-based classification method for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. The relationship between wetland change and climate factors was investigated by combining grey relation analysis and correlation analysis. The response of wetland change to different climatic factors was consequently clarified. The results showed that the river wetlands and lake wetlands increased significantly from the year 2000 to 2010 (4.04% and 4.21%, respectively). However, the total wetland area demonstrated a decreasing trend (7.08%), primarily due to the significant decrease in the marsh wetlands (6.81%). The total wetland area demonstrated a slightly increasing trend from the year 2010 to 2020 (0.14%), in which river wetlands and lake wetlands increased by 3.25% and 2.09%, respectively, while the marsh wetlands demonstrated a tendency to be stable. From the year 2000 to 2010, 75.53% of precipitation and 27.68% of temperature demonstrated a significant increase and an obvious warm–humid climate trend. However, from the year 2010 to 2020, the trend of increasing precipitation weakened, the temperature decreased slightly, and the warm–humid climate trend was not significant. From the year 2000 to 2020, the YRSNP river wetlands and lake wetlands were significantly and positively correlated with temperature and precipitation, while the marsh wetlands were most affected by climate warming, especially the warm-season temperatures. The spatial–temporal difference was not obvious in the correlation coefficient between marsh wetlands area change and the precipitation and temperature. The results of the study can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the conservation of wetland ecosystems in the Three-River-Source National Park.
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Wang, Le, Xiaodong Wang, Yu An, Tiejun Song, Shouzheng Tong, and Xuan Wang. "Effects of Land Use Changes on the Plant Community Characteristics in the Wetlands of the Semi-Arid Regions." Diversity 14, no. 12 (November 30, 2022): 1049. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d14121049.
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Human disturbance is the main driving factor of wetland vegetation degradation, and plant community changes can directly characterize the process of wetland degradation. The wetlands in semi-arid region of Songnen Plain perform the important ecological functions, especially the habitat of waterbirds. Recently, the succession of wetland plant community has been accelerated by land use changes. In this study, we investigated the variations of plant community in wetlands undergoing land use changes (natural, mowing, light grazing + mowing, moderate grazing and heavy grazing wetlands) in the western Songnen Plain. The results showed that the plant communities were significantly affected by land use changes. The typical wetland plant Calamagrostis angustifolia was the dominant species in natural wetlands, and its dominance was gradually decreased in mowing or grazing wetlands in where Carex spp. or Artemisia selengensis acting as the dominant species. The height, density, and biomass in natural wetlands were significantly higher than those in other wetlands, whereas the species diversity and richness in natural wetlands were significantly lower. The similarity index of plant community in wetlands undergoing land use changes to natural wetlands ranged from 17.7–45.1%, being the highest in mowed wetlands and the lowest in heavily grazed wetlands. The linear regression further indicated that the plant diversity index was negatively correlated with the aboveground biomass of grasses and positively correlated with the aboveground biomass of forbs. Therefore, the land use changes in wetlands drove the replacement of dominant species of wetland vegetation and changed plant community characteristics and the species diversity, and the maintenance of species diversity is linked with the variability in plant functional strategies. The results of community variations and their relationships with functional changes can be used for assessing the effects of degradation and ecological function in response of land use changes in wetlands.
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King, Andrew C., Cynthia A. Mitchell, and Tony Howes. "Hydraulic tracer studies in a pilot scale subsurface flow constructed wetland." Water Science and Technology 35, no. 5 (March 1, 1997): 189–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1997.0195.
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Current design procedures for Subsurface Flow (SSF) Wetlands are based on the simplifying assumptions of plug flow and first order decay of pollutants. These design procedures do yield functional wetlands but result in over-design and inadequate descriptions of the pollutant removal mechanisms which occur within them. Even though these deficiencies are often noted, few authors have attempted to improve modelling of either flow or pollutant removal in such systems. Consequently the Oxley Creek Wetland, a pilot scale SSF wetland designed to enable rigorous monitoring, has recently been constructed in Brisbane, Australia. Tracer studies have been carried out in order to determine the hydraulics of this wetland prior to commissioning it with settled sewage. The tracer studies will continue during the wetland's commissioning and operational phases. These studies will improve our understanding of the hydraulics of newly built SSF wetlands and the changes brought on by operational factors such as biological films and wetland plant root structures. Results to date indicate that the flow through the gravel beds is not uniform and cannot be adequately modelled by a single parameter, plug flow with dispersion, model. We have developed a multiparameter model, incorporating four plug flow reactors, which provides a better approximation of our experimental data. With further development this model will allow improvements to current SSF wetland design procedures and operational strategies, and will underpin investigations into the pollutant removal mechanisms at the Oxley Creek Wetland.
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Lü, S. B., S. G. Xu, and F. Feng. "Floodwater utilisation values of wetland services – a case study in Northeastern China." Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 12, no. 2 (February 15, 2012): 341–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/nhess-12-341-2012.
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Abstract. Water plays a significant role in wetlands. Floodwater utilisation in wetlands brings a wide range of wetland services, from goods production and water regulation to animal protection and aesthetics related to water supply in wetlands. In this study, the floodwater utilisation values of wetland services were estimated within the Momoge wetland and Xianghai wetland in western Jilin province of northeastern China. From 2003 to 2008, the floodwater diverted from the Nenjiang and Tao'er River is 381 million m3, which translates into a monetary value of approximately 1.35 billion RMB in 2008 (RMB: Chinese Currency, RMB 6.80 = US$ 1), and the ratio of economic value, eco-environmental value, and social value is 1:12:2. Besides the monetary value of the water itself, excessive floodwater utilisation may bring losses to wetlands; the threshold floodwater utilisation volumes in wetlands are discussed. Floodwater utilisation can alleviate water shortages in wetlands, and the evaluation of floodwater utilisation in wetland services in monetary terms is a guide for the effective use of the floodwater resources and for the conservation of wetlands.
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P V, Anurag, and Smitha M V. "Measures for Mitigating Adverse Impacts of Tourism in wetlands." June-July 2024, no. 44 (July 20, 2024): 15–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.55529/jsrth.44.15.23.
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Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems globally, providing crucial services such as water filtration, food resources, building materials, transportation routes, and coastal protection. Additionally, they support recreational and tourism activities, collectively known as ecosystem services. The migration of numerous bird species and the rich plant diversity within wetlands underscore the importance of effective biodiversity conservation initiatives. However, wetlands face significant threats from urbanization, pollution, resource overharvesting, climate change, and tourism. Tourism, in particular, leads to habitat destruction, pollution, and environmental degradation, compromising water quality and soil stability. Thus, assessing the impacts of tourism on wetlands is essential to develop strategies that enhance their resilience and protect these critical ecosystems. A practical approach to promoting sustainable tourism involves implementing visitor management strategies that regulate visitor behaviour to minimize site impacts. Zoning is an effective visitor management tool that aims to balance the negative impacts of tourism while promoting ecotourism and wetland restoration. While existing literature suggests various zoning factors, each wetland's unique biological characteristics require tailored approaches. This research focuses on importance of zoning and identifying specific zoning parameters to manage tourism impacts in Kerala's wetlands, aiming to support sustainable tourism and conservation efforts.
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MALTCHIK, LEONARDO, VANESSA CALEFFI, CRISTINA STENERT, DAROLD PAUL BATZER, MARIA TERESA FERNANDEZ PIEDADE, and WOLFGANG JOHANNES JUNK. "Legislation for wetland conservation in Brazil: Are existing terms and definitions sufficient?" Environmental Conservation 45, no. 3 (December 11, 2017): 301–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892917000522.
Full textAbstract:
SUMMARYLaws are crucial tools to protect wetlands. How these laws are written has important implications for conservation. We assessed all wetland terms and definitions in Brazilian legislation to identify whether legislation uses any generic terms to represent several or all types of wetlands and to determine if definitions with clear descriptors exist that can easily be used to identify wetland systems. A total of 116 local wetland-related terms and 21 wetland definitions were found in Brazilian legislation. A direct Portuguese translation of the term ‘wetlands’ was found only once in the New Forest Code. The insertion of the term ‘wetlands’ in the New Forest Code has important practical implications for the conservation, since all different Brazilian wetland types would be represented by the generic term ‘wetlands’. The existence of a definition of the term ‘wetlands’ associated with attributes of water and biota in Federal legislation will help environmental technicians to identify wetland systems and to recognize different wetland types. The insertion of this definition in the New Forest Code would make it clear that the drainage of any wetland type – large or small – is prohibited, and those who do so would be breaking Brazilian environmental law.
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Noe, Krista L., Christopher T. Rota, Mack W. Frantz, and James T. Anderson. "Restored and Natural Wetland Small Mammal Communities in West Virginia, USA." Land 11, no. 9 (September 4, 2022): 1482. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land11091482.
Full textAbstract:
Wetland restoration is a common practice, and, in many cases, it is for mitigation to offset losses of natural wetlands due to human interference. Researchers commonly compare bird, amphibian, and reptile communities between these wetlands and natural wetlands but overlook small mammals. However, terrestrial small mammals are essential to consider as they serve a fundamental role in the ecosystem as seed dispersers and prey for larger wildlife. We conducted small mammal trapping on 26 wetlands (n = 14 restored, n = 12 natural) in West Virginia, USA, in the summers of 2020 and 2021 to obtain and compare community metrics between wetland types. We found that mass, occupancy probability, and community composition were similar between restored and natural wetlands. However, the apparent abundance of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) was higher in natural wetlands (p < 0.001). Because we captured the three rarest species exclusively in natural wetlands, the ability of restored wetlands to provide an adequate habitat for rare or wetland-obligate species may be biologically significant. Restored wetlands mainly offer sufficient habitat for small mammal communities, but apparent abundance in restored wetlands may differ from natural wetlands depending on species.
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Smardon, Richard. "U.S. Clean Water Act Policy vs. Wetland Science - Nexus or Not?" Wetland Science & Practice 36, no. 1 (January 2019): 15–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1672/ucrt083-241.
Full textAbstract:
This is a historical overview of the role that wetland science has played in regard to wetland management policy in North America. The major focus will be U.S. based since this is where wetland science has a direct link to policy and vice versa. From an international perspective – please see the book- Sustaining the World’s Wetlands: Setting Policy and Resolving Conflicts. The linkage of wetland science to policy has not always been symbiotic as one can see from this article, but even the problematic nexus issues are instructive. This author relied heavily upon Environmental Law Institute’s National Wetland Newsletter from 1986 to 2016 as a major guide to policy versus wetlands science issues besides relevant journal articles, books, and other sources. For an in depth look at the history of U.S. wetlands and for coastal wetlands, readers are referred to Discovering the Unknown Landscape: A History of America’s Wetlands and Tidal Wetlands Primer: An Introduction to Their Ecology, Natural History, Status, and Conservation, respectively.
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Barakagira, Alex, and Anton H. de Wit. "The role of wetland management agencies within the local community in the conservation of wetlands in Uganda." Environmental & Socio-economic Studies 7, no. 1 (March 1, 2019): 59–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/environ-2019-0006.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Wetlands in Uganda are believed to be socio-economically important for providing water for drinking, irrigation, fisheries, recreation, transport and agriculture among others. Bearing in mind the host of benefits wetlands provide to local communities, if they are harnessed without the mind, they could end up being over utilized and ultimately degraded and not continue to provide a stream of functions, attributes and services. This could be one of the primary reasons why special Departments and Institutions like the National Environment Management Authority and Wetlands Management Department were created to manage the country’s natural resources including wetlands. The study was initiated to explore how wetland management agencies influence members of the local community on matters concerning the conservation of wetlands in Uganda. A cross-sectional research design was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. A questionnaire survey was conducted amongst four hundred households to collect information concerning the role of wetland management agencies among members of the local community for the conservation of wetlands in Uganda. More information was obtained from senior officials from the National Environment Management Authority, Wetland Management Department, and District Natural Resources Officers from the study area using a non-structured questionnaire. Key informant interviews and direct observations were also used to collect data. The study revealed that gathering materials for building and for making crafts, agricultural activities, unsustainable mining of clay and sand for building contributed to wetland degradation. Some circumstances like high population growth, unclear wetland ownership, unawareness of the indirect functions of wetlands also contributed to wetland degradation. It was found that the wetland management agencies have been ineffective towards the conservation of wetlands mainly due to inadequate funding, political interference, and lack of specific judges for wetland related court cases among others. For wetland management agencies to effectively perform their duties leading to the protection and conservation of wetlands in Uganda, the study recommends that members of the local community should be allowed to practice wetland edge farming, fish farming in ponds constructed in wetlands, and to leave some parts of these vital wetlands that have been reclaimed to regenerate, in addition to addressing the main reported hindrances that are stifling the smooth running of the activities of the agencies.
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Kennedy, Gavin, and Tatiana Mayer. "Natural and Constructed Wetlands in Canada: An Overview." Water Quality Research Journal 37, no. 2 (May 1, 2002): 295–325. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wqrj.2002.020.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract A review of freshwater wetland research in Canada was conducted to highlight the importance of these ecosystems and to identify wetland research needs. Both natural and constructed wetland systems are discussed. Natural wetlands are an important part of the Canadian landscape. They provide the habitat for a broad variety of flora and fauna and contribute significantly to the Canadian economy. It is estimated that the total value derived from consumptive and non-consumptive activities exceeds $10 billion annually. The past decades have witnessed the continued loss and degradation of wetlands in Canada. In spite of recent protection, Canadian wetlands remain threatened by anthropogenic activities. This review shows that more research on fate and transport of pollutants from urban and agricultural sources in wetland systems is needed to better protect the health and to assure the sustainability of wetlands in Canada. Furthermore, improved knowledge of hydrology and hydrogeochemistry of wetlands will assure more effective management of these ecosystems. Lastly, better understanding of the effect of climate change on wetlands will result in better protection of these important ecosystems. Constructed wetlands are man-made wetlands used to treat non-point source pollution. The wetland treatment technology capitalizes on the intrinsic water quality amelioration function of wetlands and is emerging as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method of treating a variety of wastewaters. The use of wetland technology in Canada is, however, less common than in the U.S.A. A number of research needs has to be addressed before the wetland treatment technology can gain widespread acceptance in Canada. This includes research pertaining to cold weather performance, including more monitoring, research on design adaptation and investigation of the effects of constructed wetlands on wildlife.
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Hunt, P. G., and M. E. Poach. "State of the art for animal wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands." Water Science and Technology 44, no. 11-12 (December 1, 2001): 19–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2001.0805.
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Although confined animal production generates enormous per-unit-area quantities of waste, wastewater from dairy and swine operations has been successfully treated in constructed wetlands. However, solids removal prior to wetland treatment is essential for long-term functionality. Plants are an integral part of wetlands; cattails and bulrushes are commonly used in constructed wetlands for nutrient uptake, surface area, and oxygen transport to sediment. Improved oxidation and nitrification may also be obtained by the use of the open water of marsh-pond-marsh designed wetlands. Wetlands normally have sufficient denitrifying population to produce enzymes, carbon to provide microbial energy, and anaerobic conditions to promote denitrification. However, the anaerobic conditions of wetland sediments limit the rate of nitrification. Thus, denitrification of animal wastewaters in wetlands is generally nitrate-limited. Wetlands are also helpful in reducing pathogen microorganisms. On the other hand, phosphorus removal is somewhat limited by the anaerobic conditions of wetlands. Therefore, when very high mass removals of nitrogen and phosphorus are required, pre- or in-wetland procedures that promote oxidation are needed to increase treatment efficiency. Such procedures offer potential for enhanced constructed wetland treatment of animal wastewater.
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Halse, SA, MR Williams, RP Jaensch, and JAK Lane. "Wetland characteristics and waterbird use of wetlands in south-western Australia." Wildlife Research 20, no. 1 (1993): 103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9930103.
Full textAbstract:
The presence or absence of 61 waterbird species on 95 wetlands in south-western Australia was related to six wetland characteristics: salinity, emergent vegetation, water depth, pH, phosphorus level and wetland size. More species were associated with salinity and vegetation than with other wetland characteristics. There were more positive associations with brackish than with fresh or saline wetlands and few species occurred in hypersaline wetlands. Trees or shrubs and sedges were the vegetation with which most species were associated; few species were recorded on completely open wetlands or those with only samphire. The 95 wetlands were classified into five groups on the basis of waterbird use. All wetland characteristics differed between groups but larger differences occurred in salinity, vegetation and water depth. The wetland group that supported most species also supported the highest numbers of waterbirds and most breeding species.
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Mitsch, William J. "Restoration of our lakes and rivers with wetlands – an important application of ecological engineering." Water Science and Technology 31, no. 8 (April 1, 1995): 167–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1995.0290.
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The role of wetlands, both natural and man-made, in improving water quality of streams, rivers, and lakes is illustrated with examples of fringe, instream, and riparian wetlands. Fringe wetlands have been shown to reduce inputs to freshwater lakes, instream wetlands can improve habitat and provide some water quality function to small streams, and riparian wetlands along larger rivers provide important roles in both capturing sediments and nutrients from the river itself and serving as buffer between uplands and the river. Two major experimental riparian wetland sites in Midwestern USA are introduced: The Des Plaines River Wetland Demonstration Project and the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park.
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Xia, Hong Xia, and Qi Hong Zhu. "Purification Effect of Self-Aeration Constructed Wetlands on COD." Advanced Materials Research 690-693 (May 2013): 1122–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.690-693.1122.
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Aimed at the issue of dissolved oxygen concentration insufficiency in regular constructed wetlands, shale hollow bricks are adopted to build self-aeration constructed wetlands, to increase the oxygen supply capacity in the system. The experimental result indicates that DO concentration in self-aeration constructed wetlands is 0.1mg/L higher than that in artificially intensified aeration wetlands, and the removal rate for COD reaches over 85%,which is about 2% higher than that of artificial aeration wetlands. This shows that the built self-aeration constructed wetland system can increase oxygen supply capacity in the wetland, and increase the purification efficiency of the wetland system for COD in wastewater.
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Osgood, Autumn, Evie S. Brahmstedt, Matthew J. S. Windle, Thomas M. Holsen, and Michael R. Twiss. "Proximity to Riparian Wetlands Increases Mercury Burden in Fish in the Upper St. Lawrence River." Water 14, no. 1 (January 1, 2022): 70. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14010070.
Full textAbstract:
Mercury deposited in the Upper St. Lawrence River watershed by atmospheric deposition accumulated in riparian wetlands and is at risk of remobilization due to water level fluctuations. To examine if riparian wetlands are a source of mercury to fish, 174 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and 145 round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) were collected in 2019 from eight wetland and seven non-wetland habitats throughout the Upper St. Lawrence River. Mercury levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in fish collected from wetlands than those collected from non-wetland habitats for both yellow perch and round goby. Perch had mercury concentrations of 74.5 ± 35.4 ng/g dry wt in wetlands compared to 59.9 ± 23.0 ng/g dry wt in non-wetlands. Goby had mercury concentrations of 55.4 ± 13.8 ng/g dry wt in wetlands and non-wetland concentrations of 41.0 ± 14.0 ng/g dry wt. Riparian wetlands are areas of elevated mercury methylation and mobilization in the Upper St. Lawrence River and consequences to predators should be considered from the perspective of both wildlife preservation as well as fish consumption advisories for public health concerns.
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Li, Han, Radmila Petric, Zinah Alazzawi, Jake Kauzlarich, Rania H. Mahmoud, Rasheed McFadden, Niklas Perslow, et al. "Four Years Continuous Monitoring Reveals Different Effects of Urban Constructed Wetlands on Bats." Land 10, no. 10 (October 14, 2021): 1087. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land10101087.
Full textAbstract:
Proactive artificial wetland constructions have been implemented to mitigate the loss of wetlands and their ecosystem services. As wetlands are habitats for bats, short-term (one or two years) studies find that constructed wetlands can immediately increase local bat activity and diversity. However, it is not clear how constructed wetlands affect bats through time while the wetlands are aging. We collected four years of continuous bat acoustic monitoring data at two constructed wetlands in an urban park in Greensboro, NC, USA. We examined bat activity and community composition patterns at these wetlands and compared them with reference sites in the city. With four years of data, we found that the effects of constructed wetlands were both habitat- and species-specific. The wetland in forests significantly increased bat activity, while the wetland in the open grass altered bat community composition. Specifically, in terms of species, we found that over time, constructed wetlands no longer attracted more big brown, silver-haired, or evening bats than control sites while the wetlands aged, highlighting the need to study broadly how each bat species uses natural and artificial wetlands. We emphasize the importance of long-term monitoring and the periodical evaluation of wildlife conservation actions.
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Xie, Pin Lei, Yu Lin Chen, Shu Cheng Chang, Jia Cong Li, Jia Long Zhou, Hai Yan Duan, Xian En Wang, and Yu Wang. "Analysis of the Environmental Degradation and Ecological Water Requirement Process of the Typical Wetlands in Northeast China." Advanced Materials Research 1014 (July 2014): 299–302. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1014.299.
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With the aggravation of water resources scarcity in northeast China at present, the area of the wetlands in the watershed has gradually decreased, and the ecotope is getting worse. In this article we take Xianghai wetland and Zhalong wetland as an example to study the process of ecological water requirement, so as to provide the basis for water environment protection. The results show that the suitable ecological water requirement of Xianghai wetland is 191.19 million m3, and the minimum ecological water requirement of Xianghai wetland is 74.32 million m3. While the suitable ecological water requirement of Zhalong wetland is 559.63 million m3, and the minimum is 217.39 million m3. The wetlands in northeast has four ecological water requirement characteristics, which includes that the northeast wetland ecological water requirement process assumes an M type; May is the month having the highest ecological water requirement of the wetland; the wetlands’ ecological water requirement shows a sharp decline in July; and the wetlands ecological water requirement becomes less in winter. The wetlands should choose a right time to make an ecological water supplement for the wetland, in order to alleviate the water shortage condition, and maintain the wetlands’ structure and function to play them normal roles.
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Stengård, Emelie, Aleksi Räsänen, Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira, and Zahra Kalantari. "Inventory and Connectivity Assessment of Wetlands in Northern Landscapes with a Depression-Based DEM Method." Water 12, no. 12 (November 30, 2020): 3355. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12123355.
Full textAbstract:
Wetlands, including peatlands, supply crucial ecosystem services such as water purification, carbon sequestration and regulation of hydrological and biogeochemical cycles. Peatlands are especially important as carbon sinks and stores because of the incomplete decomposition of vegetation within the peat. Good knowledge of individual wetlands exists locally, but information on how different wetland systems interact with their surroundings is lacking. In this study, the ability to use a depression-based digital elevation model (DEM) method to inventory wetlands in northern landscapes and assess their hydrological connectivity was investigated. The method consisted of three steps: (1) identification and mapping of wetlands, (2) identification of threshold values of minimum wetland size and depth, and (3) delineation of a defined coherent area of multiple wetlands with hydrological connectivity, called wetlandscape. The results showed that 64% of identified wetlands corresponded with an existing wetland map in the study area, but only 10% of the wetlands in the existing map were identified, with the F1 score being 17%. Therefore, the methodology cannot independently map wetlands and future research should be conducted in which additional data sources and mapping techniques are integrated. However, wetland connectivity could be mapped with the depression-based DEM methodology by utilising information on upstream and downstream wetland depressions, catchment boundaries and drainage flow paths. Knowledge about wetland connectivity is crucial for understanding how physical, biological and chemical materials are transported and distributed in the landscape, and thus also for resilience, management and protection of wetlandscapes.
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Mao, D., Z. Wang, Y. Wang, C. Y. Choi, M. Jia, M. V. Jackson, and R. A. Fuller. "Remote Observations in China’s Ramsar Sites: Wetland Dynamics, Anthropogenic Threats, and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals." Journal of Remote Sensing 2021 (May 15, 2021): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.34133/2021/9849343.
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The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international framework through which countries identify and protect important wetlands. Yet Ramsar wetlands are under substantial anthropogenic pressure worldwide, and tracking ecological change relies on multitemporal data sets. Here, we evaluated the spatial extent, temporal change, and anthropogenic threat to Ramsar wetlands at a national scale across China to determine whether their management is currently sustainable. We analyzed Landsat data to examine wetland dynamics and anthropogenic threats at the 57 Ramsar wetlands in China between 1980 and 2018. Results reveal that Ramsar sites play important roles in preventing wetland loss compared to the dramatic decline of wetlands in the surrounding areas. However, there are declines in wetland area at 18 Ramsar sites. Among those, six lost a wetland area greater than 100 km2, primarily caused by agricultural activities. Consistent expansion of anthropogenic land covers occurred within 43 (75%) Ramsar sites, and anthropogenic threats from land cover change were particularly notable in eastern China. Aquaculture pond expansion and Spartina alterniflora invasion were prominent threats to coastal Ramsar wetlands. The observations within China’s Ramsar sites, which in management regulations have higher levels of protection than other wetlands, can help track progress towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study findings suggest that further and timely actions are required to control the loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems.
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Smith, P. G. R., V. Glooschenko, and D. A. Hagen. "Coastal Wetlands of Three Canadian Great Lakes: Inventory, Current Conservation Initiatives, and Patterns of Variation." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48, no. 8 (August 1, 1991): 1581–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f91-187.
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The decline of wetlands, including those in the Great Lakes coastal zone, prompted the Government of Ontario to initiate steps towards a wetland management policy in 1981. Wetland inventory and evaluation in southern Ontario began in 1983. To date, 1982 wetlands have been evaluated totalling 390 000 ha. These include 160 coastal wetlands, 64 of these on Lake Ontario and the remainder on the other Great Lakes and connecting channels. Current wetland conservation initiatives are outlined including the Wetlands Planning Policy Statement and Conservation Lands Act. Although the values of Ontario's coastal wetland areas are increasingly being recognized, there has been no comprehensive study to show patterns in coastal wetland ecology. Aided by analysis of variance, ordination, and cluster analysis, we show patterns of variation in wetland and site types, soils, dissolved solids, vegetation complexity, and rare flora and fauna which differ between wetlands along Lakes Ontario, Huron, Erie, St. Clair, and connecting channels. Wetlands of Lake Huron reflect a more northern species composition, less organic soil, and more swamp and fen habitat. Along Lakes Erie, Ontario, and St. Clair the predominant marshes have smaller swamp components, organic soils, and considerable dissolved solids.
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Pokharel, Gobinda Prasad, and Sudeep Thakuri. "Ecosystem services, threats, and management practices of wetlands in Morang District of Nepal." Our Nature 22, no. 1 (July 5, 2024): 47–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/on.v22i1.67351.
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Wetlands are gaining much attention recently as they are threatened by multiple stressors; however, detailed ecological and socio-economic studies on these wetlands are limited. In this study, we present an inventory and assess ecosystem services, and conservation status of the wetlands of Morang district in Eastern Nepal. We used the remote sensing data - Google Earth Imagery and official topographic maps – for preparation of inventory and conducted a rapid field survey using a questionnaire, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Provisional and cultural services were analyzed based on field observations and the questionnaire survey. Twenty-four wetlands of 29.4 ha area, ranging from 0.017 to 7.5 ha were recorded. The Sunbarsi wetland is located in the lowest (87 m) and the Chuli Pokhari in the highest (677 m) elevation. Rajarani wetland of Letang (7.5 ha) is the largest wetland in the district. Ten wetlands have high religious value. Wetlands in Morang district are also productive ecosystems providing different types of ecosystem services. They contribute in local economy providing job and business opportunities to locals. Bhulkey wetland of Pathari-1 provides drinking water to 1,938 families. Further, these wetlands are used for irrigation. The wetlands are also providing services to livestock farming, fishing, boating, commercial activities (hotels and shops), and tourism. Cultural, recreational and ecotourism activities in the wetlands are generating revenue locally.
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Kuchara, Vishwa, Ronak Charan, Archana Mankad, and Hitesh Solanki. "WETLAND DEGRADATION AND LOSS DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES." International Association of Biologicals and Computational Digest 2, no. 2 (November 5, 2023): 41–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.56588/iabcd.v2i2.191.
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A wetland ecosystem covers about 5-10% of the earth's land. Wetlands play a significant role in the world's economy but they suffer from several threats from various influencing factors. Wetlands are destroyed due to the expansion of human activities and their effect on living and non-living organisms. Some of India’s and Gujarat's wetlands case studies highlight the worst conditions of wetlands from past decades. These case studies highlight the reasons for wetland degradation, and also which types of issues need to be addressed. Wetlands are the most important ecosystem on earth, and to control wetland degradation, it is essential to improve special laws and regulations and be aware of people to conserve ecosystems.
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Salinas, J. B. G., M. K. P. Eggerth, M. E. Miller, R. R. B. Meza, J. T. A. Chacaltana, J. R. Acuña, and G. F. Barroso. "WETLAND MAPPING WITH MULTITEMPORAL SENTINEL RADAR REMOTE SENSING IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION OF BRAZIL." ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLII-3/W12-2020 (November 6, 2020): 237–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlii-3-w12-2020-237-2020.
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Abstract. A classification method with multi-temporal images of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) combined with Geographic information system, geoinformation data, and field validation, was applied for wetland mapping accuracy and typology. Wetland mapping is vital for management and conservation, particularly under environmental pressures such as wetland drainage and land reclamation. The aim of this study is to develop an accurate mapping of wetlands and open water systems of the Lower Doce River Valley - LDRV (Southeastern Brazil) with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, using multitemporal classification techniques and ground truth validation. Sentinel-1B SAR imagery from 2016 and 2019 was processed with Google Earth Engine (GEE). Monthly median imagery condition for the rainy season was obtained and K-means unsupervised classification was applied. The study yields 4,157 wetlands, 262.27 km2 with predominant small patches. Fieldwork revealed three main wetlands categories: coastal wetlands, inland wetlands and artificial wetlands. The results have shown an overall accuracy of 81.9% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.71. Wetlands, non-wetlands, and open waters classes present accuracy of 50, 80 and 95%, respectively.
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Strain, Gabriel F., Philip J. Turk, Jordan Helmick, and James T. Anderson. "Amphibian reproductive success as a gauge of functional equivalency of created wetlands in the Central Appalachians." Wildlife Research 44, no. 4 (2017): 354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr15177.
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Context Evaluating the adequacy of created wetlands to replace the functions of lost natural wetlands is important because wetland mitigation is a major tool used to offset wetland losses. However, measurements such as vegetative cover and presence of wildlife may not provide sufficient evidence that created wetlands are functioning properly. Thus, examining the ecology of wetland biota such as that of amphibians may be a more useful surrogate for function. Aims The objectives of this study were to compare the abundance of amphibian metamorphs and survival and growth of larval amphibians in created wetlands, relative to natural wetlands. Methods Amphibian metamorphs were trapped in created and natural wetlands during the spring (April–May) and summer (June–August) of 2009 and 2010, and 165 green frog (Lithobates clamitans) larvae were raised during the spring of 2010 in laboratory aquaria containing water from created or natural wetlands. Key results Abundance of spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) metamorphs decreased significantly from 2009 to 2010 and abundance of green frog metamorphs increased with habitat complexity, but both were unaffected by wetland type. Detection probability of metamorphs of both species was low, increased with water temperature and declined with month of observation. Survival, growth curves and mass were similar among green frog larvae raised in created and natural wetland aquaria. Conclusions Our results suggest that the created and natural wetlands we examined function similarly with respect to providing adequate breeding habitat for green frogs and spring peepers. Implications Wetlands created to offset the loss of natural wetlands, although generally not designed for the purpose of wildlife habitat, can function as adequate breeding habitat for generalist amphibians such as green frogs and spring peepers.
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Gao, Yin, Lijuan Cui, Jianjun Liu, Wei Li, and Yinru Lei. "China's coastal-wetland change analysis based on high-resolution remote sensing." Marine and Freshwater Research 71, no. 9 (2020): 1161. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf19062.
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Coastal wetlands not only have abundant biodiversity and high productivity, but they also play an irreplaceable and important role in regional ecosystems. Because of the complex structure and dynamic characteristics of coastal wetlands, it is difficult to observe the spatial changes of coastal wetlands on a large scale and improve data reliability. In this study, a spatially constrained manual-interpretation method based on nationwide high-resolution images in 2017 was adopted to extract China’s coastal wetland distribution, and, then, the second national wetland-survey data from 2011 were used as a baseline for change analysis. The results showed that under the influence of natural conditions and human activities, China’s coastal wetlands have decreased in distribution in the past 6 years. The situation of coastal wetland reclamation is critical, and the hotspot regions are mainly distributed in Bohai Bay, middle of Jiangsu province and Hangzhou Bay. Farming reclamation is another factor that occupies coastal wetlands in China, and main occupied wetlands are mudflats, shallow sea, tidal flats, intertidal salt marshes and estuarine waters. Tide is the main factor affecting extraction of wetlands, the spatially constrained method had a positive effect on wetland detection, and has potential to improve automatic algorithms of complex coastal wetlands.
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Jayathilake, Tharaka, Miyuru B. Gunathilake, Eranga M. Wimalasiri, and Upaka Rathnayake. "Wetland Water-Level Prediction in the Context of Machine-Learning Techniques: Where Do We Stand?" Environments 10, no. 5 (April 30, 2023): 75. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/environments10050075.
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Wetlands are simply areas that are fully or partially saturated with water. Not much attention has been given to wetlands in the past, due to the unawareness of their value to the general public. However, wetlands have numerous hydrological, ecological, and social values. They play an important role in interactions among soil, water, plants, and animals. The rich biodiversity in the vicinity of wetlands makes them invaluable. Therefore, the conservation of wetlands is highly important in today’s world. Many anthropogenic activities damage wetlands. Climate change has adversely impacted wetlands and their biodiversity. The shrinking of wetland areas and reducing wetland water levels can therefore be frequently seen. However, the opposite can be seen during stormy seasons. Since wetlands have permissible water levels, the prediction of wetland water levels is important. Flooding and many other severe environmental damage can happen when these water levels are exceeded. Therefore, the prediction of wetland water level is an important task to identify potential environmental damage. However, the monitoring of water levels in wetlands all over the world has been limited due to many difficulties. A Scopus-based search and a bibliometric analysis showcased the limited research work that has been carried out in the prediction of wetland water level using machine-learning techniques. Therefore, there is a clear need to assess what is available in the literature and then present it in a comprehensive review. Therefore, this review paper focuses on the state of the art of water-level prediction techniques of wetlands using machine-learning techniques. Nonlinear climatic parameters such as precipitation, evaporation, and inflows are some of the main factors deciding water levels; therefore, identifying the relationships between these parameters is complex. Therefore, machine-learning techniques are widely used to present nonlinear relationships and to predict water levels. The state-of-the-art literature summarizes that artificial neural networks (ANNs) are some of the most effective tools in wetland water-level prediction. This review can be effectively used in any future research work on wetland water-level prediction.
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Halabisky, Meghan, Dan Miller, Anthony J. Stewart, Amy Yahnke, Daniel Lorigan, Tate Brasel, and Ludmila Monika Moskal. "The Wetland Intrinsic Potential tool: mapping wetland intrinsic potential through machine learning of multi-scale remote sensing proxies of wetland indicators." Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 27, no. 20 (October 20, 2023): 3687–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3687-2023.
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Abstract. Accurate, unbiased wetland inventories are critical to monitor and protect wetlands from future harm or land conversion. However, most wetland inventories are constructed through manual image interpretation or automated classification of multi-band imagery and are biased towards wetlands that are easy to directly detect in aerial and satellite imagery. Wetlands that are obscured by forest canopy, that occur ephemerally, and that have no visible standing water are, therefore, often missing from wetland maps. To aid in the detection of these cryptic wetlands, we developed the Wetland Intrinsic Potential (WIP) tool, based on a wetland-indicator framework commonly used on the ground to detect wetlands through the presence of hydrophytic vegetation, hydrology, and hydric soils. Our tool uses a random forest model with spatially explicit input variables that represent all three wetland indicators, including novel multi-scale topographic indicators that represent the processes that drive wetland formation, to derive a map of wetland probability. With the ability to include multi-scale topographic indicators that help identify cryptic wetlands, the WIP tool can identify areas conducive to wetland formation while providing a flexible approach that can be adapted to diverse landscapes. For a study area in the Hoh River watershed in western Washington, USA, classification of the output probability with a threshold of 0.5 provided an overall accuracy of 91.97 %. Compared to the National Wetlands Inventory, the classified WIP tool output identified over 2 times the wetland area and reduced errors of omission from 47.5 % to 14.1 % but increased errors of commission from 1.9 % to 10.5 %. The WIP tool is implemented as an ArcGIS toolbox using a combination of R and Python scripts.