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.
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