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Forested wetlands in freshwater and salt‐water environments
Author(s) -
Lugo Ariel E.,
Brown Sandra,
Brinson Mark M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1988.33.4part2.0894
Subject(s) - wetland , environmental science , litter , ecosystem , productivity , hydrology (agriculture) , freshwater ecosystem , nutrient , plant litter , ecology , biology , geology , geotechnical engineering , economics , macroeconomics
A review of data from over 50 freshwater and about 50 salt‐water sites revealed that freshwater and salt‐water forested wetlands exhibit parallel responses to hydrologic factors. Greater ecosystem complexity and productivity are associated with higher hydrologic energy and more fertile conditions (riverine > fringe ≥ basin > dwarf = scrub). However, structural complexity is greater in freshwater forested wetlands than in salt‐water forested wetlands. Net primary productivity, litter fall, and export of organic matter are higher in salt‐water forested wetlands. These differences raise questions about the efficiency with which nutrients are used in forested wetlands. Available data suggest that nutrient‐use efficiency by litter fall and litter turnover are higher in tidal salt‐water wetlands than in freshwater wetlands.