Wetland functions are the biophysical processes and interactions through which wetlands influence hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological dynamics in a landscape. Key hydrological functions include water storage, flood attenuation, groundwater recharge or discharge, and modulation of surface runoff. Biogeochemical functions encompass nutrient retention and transformation (e.g., denitrification), carbon sequestration and storage, sediment trapping, and contaminant attenuation. Ecological functions involve providing habitat structure, supporting primary and secondary production, maintaining biodiversity, and sustaining food webs. These functions collectively regulate ecosystem services but are assessed scientifically in terms of process rates, fluxes, and system responses rather than societal benefits.
Urban stormwater ponds provide important habitats for birds, including both resident and migrating species, according to research led by the University of Toronto. For the study, researchers placed audio recorders at 16 stormwater ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 24, 2026
0
11
Hungry gulls do not only steal our chips and sandwiches. They learn our habits, and look for reliable sources of food. That includes waste treatment centers, landfill or anywhere food waste is concentrated. Many gull populations ...
Ecology
Mar 19, 2026
9
17
Across Europe, beaver numbers are increasing after a long period of decline. As these aquatic mammals recolonize rivers, they are gradually rebuilding wetlands that once existed across many river valleys.
Plants & Animals
Mar 18, 2026
0
13
Beavers could engineer riverbeds into promising carbon dioxide sinks, according to a new international study led by researchers at the University of Birmingham. The paper, published in Communications Earth & Environment, ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 18, 2026
0
20
Brazilian researchers have developed an index that can measure the health of mangrove soils at different stages. When applied to degraded, restored, and preserved areas, the index revealed that healthy mangroves, including ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 10, 2026
0
40
A prolonged drought in southeastern Connecticut reduced the stability of microorganisms responsible for a critical step in the nitrogen cycle in a coastal salt marsh, according to research led by a Connecticut College scientist ...
Ecology
Mar 3, 2026
0
13
Beaver dams are critical to river health and a source of biodiversity. They create wetlands, slow water and improve water quality. They also reduce flood peaks and delay runoff. But beaver dams are often blamed when extreme ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 24, 2026
0
39
After weeks of relentless rain and flooding, and even more forecast, 2025's droughts and hosepipe bans feel like ancient history. But they shouldn't.
Environment
Feb 18, 2026
0
16
The value of wetlands on the landscape cannot be overstated—they store and filter water, provide wildlife habitat, cool the atmosphere and sequester carbon. Yet, in the farmland area of Canada's Prairies, wetlands are being ...
Ecology
Feb 17, 2026
0
17
On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, the Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA) at the Universitat Politècnica de València highlights the importance of these ecosystems as key tools for improving water ...
Environment
Feb 13, 2026
0
15
