The Biology of Freshwater Wetlands

by van der Valk, Arnold G.

• ISBN13: 9780199608959
• ISBN10: 0199608954
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-24
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Global wetlands exhibit significant differences in both hydrology and species composition and range from moss-dominated arctic peatlands to seasonally-flooded tropical floodplains. They are increasingly recognized for the important services that they provide to both the environment and human society such as wildlife and fish production, nutrient filtering, and carbon sequestration. A combination of low oxygen levels and dense plant canopies present particular challenges for organisms living in this aquatic habitat. This concise textbook discusses the universal environmental and biological features of wetland habitats, with an emphasis on wetland plants and animals and their adaptations. It also describes the functional features of wetlands - primary production, litter decomposition, food webs, and nutrient cycling - and their significance locally and globally. The future of wetlands is examined, including the potential threats of global climate change and invasive species, as well as their restoration and creation. This new edition maintains the structure and style of the first, but is fully updated throughout with new chapters on invasive species, restoration/creation, global climate change, and the value of wetlands.

Table of Contents

Preface to the second edition	p. ix
Preface to the first edition	p. xi
Abbreviations	p. xiv
Introduction	p. l
What is a wetland?	p. 1
Wetland classification	p. 6
Wetland inventories	p. 9
Summary	p. 11
Practical experiments and observations	p. 11
Wetland classification	p. 12
Water and Soil	p. 13
Physical and chemical properties of water	p. 14
Wetland hydrology	p. 22
Secondary gradients	p. 31
Hydric soils	p. 33
Soil genesis	p. 33
Summary	p. 41
Practical experiments and observations	p. 42
Water levels	p. 42
Water chemistry	p. 43
Temperature and oxygen gradients	p. 43
Redox	p. 43
Hydric soils	p. 44
Microorganisms and Invertebrates	p. 45
Microorganisms	p. 46
Bacteria	p. 47
Fungi	p. 49
Algae	p. 51
Invertebrates	p. 55
Aquatic insects	p. 56
Summary	p. 55
Practical experiments and observations	p. 65
Wetland algae	p. 65
Wetland invertebrates	p. 66
Wetland Plants and Animals	p. 69
Wetland plants	p. 71
Internal gas-space continuum	p. 77
Heterophylly	p. 84
Clonal growth	p. 87
Birds	p. 89
Fish	p. 94
Amphibians, reptiles, and mammals	p. 98
Summary	p. 103
Practical experiments and observations	p. 103
Macrophyte adaptations	p. 103
Seed banks	p. 104
Wetland birds	p. 105
Wetland fish	p. 105
Spatial and Temporal Patterns	p. 106
Coenoclines	p. 106
Spatial patterns	p. 110
Coenocline development	p. 113
Fire	p. 119
Temporal patterns	p. 119
Macro-succession	p. 119
Micro-succession	p. 122
Micro-succession versus fluctuations	p. 126
Development of wedand landscapes	p. 128
Summary	p. 131
Practical experiments and observations	p. 133
Gradient analysis	p. 133
Sediment cores	p. 134
Wetland Functions	p. 135
Primary production	p. 136
Food webs	p. 145
Litter decomposition	p. 153
Nutrient cycling	p. 159
The carbon cycle	p. 160
Nitrogen and sulfur cycling	p. 165
Phosphorus cycling	p. 167
Summary	p. 169
Practical experiments and observations	p. 170
Primary production	p. 170
Invertebrates and litter decomposition	p. 170
Methane production	p. 171
Invasive Species	p. 173
What makes a species invasive?	p. 175
Landscape sink or disturbance hypothesis	p. 175
Superior competitor hypothesis	p. 177
Enemy release	p. 177
Broader tolerance	p. 178
Efficient use	p. 179
Hybrid vigor	p. 180
Allelopathy	p. 181
Empty niche	p. 181
Invasive animal species	p. 182
What effect do exotic species have on wetlands?	p. 186
What should be done to control invasive species?	p. 189
Summary	p. 192
Practical observations	p. 193
Restoration and Creation	p. 194
Definitions	p. 194
Restoration and succession	p. 199
Environmental restoration	p. 201
Biological restoration	p. 202
Plant materials	p. 203
Invasive species	p. 205
Suitable establishment conditions	p. 206
Restoration planning	p. 206
Project goals	p. 207
Site selection and evaluation	p. 209
Restoration plan	p. 211
Implementation	p. 211
Monitoring	p. 212
Project evaluation and management	p. 212
How successful are wetland restorations?	p. 214
Post-project management	p. 216
Summary	p. 216
Global Climate Change	p. 218
Wetlands and the global carbon budget	p. 219
Impacts of climate change	p. 224
Species composition	p. 225
Migration and extinction	p. 227
Indirect effects	p. 228
Prairie potholes	p. 231
Louisiana coastal mashes	p. 232
Summary	p. 239
Practical experiments and observations	p. 240
The value and future of wetlands	p. 241
Functions, services, and values	p. 243
Protection and conservation	p. 249
Future of wetlands	p. 253
Glossary	p. 255
Bibliography	p. 259
Index	p. 275
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