Research Branch Staff Publications

The ecology of wetlands.

Citation:

Banner, A. and W. MacKenzie. 2000. The ecology of wetlands. B.C. Ministry of Forests, Forest Science Program, Victoria. Extension Note 45. 12 p.

Abstract:

This extension note describes the basic ecological features of wetland ecosystems. It is a foundational document that provides important concepts and background information to be applied in future extension notes on wetland management. Major topics and concepts covered in this document are:

• definition of a wetland ecosystem and comparison of characteristics with other related ecosystems,
• recognition of the different applications of the term "wetland ecosystem" at site and landscape scales,
• major environmental factors and their effects on wetland ecosystems,
• classification of wetland ecosystems,
• successional patterns in wet-land ecosystems,
• natural disturbance regimes of wetlands,
• role of reserves in protecting wetland ecosystems,
• regional variation in wetland abundance and characteristics, and
• some important management issues for wetland ecosystems in British Columbia.

Availability:

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