187
etc. Reeds and muds from the inland and coastal
wetlands are used as fencing material, thatching
of roofs, wall construction, etc., in Europe, Iraq,
Japan, India, China, etc.
11.2 Wetland Science and
Wetland Scientists
Wetlands still, perhaps, remain as an enigma to the
scientists even after their ecological and economic
benefi ts were determined and became widely
appreciated too. They are sometimes diffi cult to
defi ne precisely, not only because of their great
geographical extent, but also because of the wide
variety of hydrologic conditions in which they are
found. Wetlands are usually found at the interface
of terrestrial ecosystems, such as upland forests
and grasslands, and aquatic systems, such as deep
lakes and oceans, making them different from
each other, yet highly dependent on both. They are
also seemingly found in isolated situations, where
the nearby aquatic system is often a groundwater
aquifer. The wetlands have occupied a position
between the cracks of the scientifi c disciplines of
terrestrial and aquatic ecology because they have
combined attributes of both aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems, but are neither.
A specialisation in the study of the wetlands is
often called wetland science or wetland ecology .
Those who deal with the study of wetlands are
called wetland scientists or wetland ecologists .
The term mire ecologist is also sometimes used.
According to some, study of all wetland is termed
telmatology . This was originally coined to mean
‘Bog Science’ (Zobel and Masing 1987 ).
Nevertheless, it is apparent that there are several
good reasons for treating wetland ecology as a
distinct fi eld of study, no matter what the fi eld is
called. Some of the unique properties of wetlands
are given below:
(a) Wetlands have unique properties which are
not adequately covered by the present ecological paradigms and by fi elds, such as limnology, estuarine ecology and terrestrial ecology.
(b) Identifi cation of some of the common properties of seemingly disparate wetland types
has been initiated by wetland studies.
(c) There is a need for a multidisciplinary
approach or training in a number of fi elds in
wetland investigations which are not routinely studied or combined in university academic programmes.
(d) There has, of late, been a great deal of interest in formulating sound policy for the regulation and management of wetlands. There
is a need for a strong scientifi c underpinning of these regulations and management
approaches for the integration of the study
of wetland ecology.
Amongst the prominent unique characteristics
of wetlands, some are standing water or waterlogged soils, anoxic conditions and plant and animal adaptations. A growing body of evidences
suggest that these features may provide some
common ground for studies which is neither terrestrial ecology nor aquatic ecology. Wetlands
provide opportunities for testing ‘universal’ ecological theories and principles involving succession and energy fl ow, which had been developed
for terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems. For example, Clements ( 1961 ) got the settings for the successional theories from the wetlands. Lindeman
( 1942 ) got the settings for the energy fl ow
approaches from the wetlands. Moreover, the
wetlands also provide an excellent laboratory for
the study of principles related to transition zones,
ecological interfaces and ecotones.
Wetlands have often been described as ecotones, i.e. transition zones between uplands, such
as forests and farmlands, and deep water aquatic
systems, such as rivers, lakes and estuaries. This
niche in the landscape allows wetlands to function as organic exporters or inorganic nutrient
sinks. Also, this transitional position often leads
to high biodiversity in wetlands, which seems to
‘borrow’ species from both aquatic and terrestrial
systems. Further, wetlands are also distinct ecosystems unto themselves rather than simply ecotones. They have some characteristics of deep
water systems, e.g. algae, benthos, nekton, anoxic
substrate and water movement. Concomitantly,
they may also have vascular angiosperms similar
in structure to those found in uplands. Further,
some wetlands may achieve the distinction of
being amongst the most productive ecosystems
11.2 Wetland Science and Wetland Scientists
etc. Reeds and muds from the inland and coastal
wetlands are used as fencing material, thatching
of roofs, wall construction, etc., in Europe, Iraq,
Japan, India, China, etc.
11.2 Wetland Science and
Wetland Scientists
Wetlands still, perhaps, remain as an enigma to the
scientists even after their ecological and economic
benefi ts were determined and became widely
appreciated too. They are sometimes diffi cult to
defi ne precisely, not only because of their great
geographical extent, but also because of the wide
variety of hydrologic conditions in which they are
found. Wetlands are usually found at the interface
of terrestrial ecosystems, such as upland forests
and grasslands, and aquatic systems, such as deep
lakes and oceans, making them different from
each other, yet highly dependent on both. They are
also seemingly found in isolated situations, where
the nearby aquatic system is often a groundwater
aquifer. The wetlands have occupied a position
between the cracks of the scientifi c disciplines of
terrestrial and aquatic ecology because they have
combined attributes of both aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems, but are neither.
A specialisation in the study of the wetlands is
often called wetland science or wetland ecology .
Those who deal with the study of wetlands are
called wetland scientists or wetland ecologists .
The term mire ecologist is also sometimes used.
According to some, study of all wetland is termed
telmatology . This was originally coined to mean
‘Bog Science’ (Zobel and Masing 1987 ).
Nevertheless, it is apparent that there are several
good reasons for treating wetland ecology as a
distinct fi eld of study, no matter what the fi eld is
called. Some of the unique properties of wetlands
are given below:
(a) Wetlands have unique properties which are
not adequately covered by the present ecological paradigms and by fi elds, such as limnology, estuarine ecology and terrestrial ecology.
(b) Identifi cation of some of the common properties of seemingly disparate wetland types
has been initiated by wetland studies.
(c) There is a need for a multidisciplinary
approach or training in a number of fi elds in
wetland investigations which are not routinely studied or combined in university academic programmes.
(d) There has, of late, been a great deal of interest in formulating sound policy for the regulation and management of wetlands. There
is a need for a strong scientifi c underpinning of these regulations and management
approaches for the integration of the study
of wetland ecology.
Amongst the prominent unique characteristics
of wetlands, some are standing water or waterlogged soils, anoxic conditions and plant and animal adaptations. A growing body of evidences
suggest that these features may provide some
common ground for studies which is neither terrestrial ecology nor aquatic ecology. Wetlands
provide opportunities for testing ‘universal’ ecological theories and principles involving succession and energy fl ow, which had been developed
for terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems. For example, Clements ( 1961 ) got the settings for the successional theories from the wetlands. Lindeman
( 1942 ) got the settings for the energy fl ow
approaches from the wetlands. Moreover, the
wetlands also provide an excellent laboratory for
the study of principles related to transition zones,
ecological interfaces and ecotones.
Wetlands have often been described as ecotones, i.e. transition zones between uplands, such
as forests and farmlands, and deep water aquatic
systems, such as rivers, lakes and estuaries. This
niche in the landscape allows wetlands to function as organic exporters or inorganic nutrient
sinks. Also, this transitional position often leads
to high biodiversity in wetlands, which seems to
‘borrow’ species from both aquatic and terrestrial
systems. Further, wetlands are also distinct ecosystems unto themselves rather than simply ecotones. They have some characteristics of deep
water systems, e.g. algae, benthos, nekton, anoxic
substrate and water movement. Concomitantly,
they may also have vascular angiosperms similar
in structure to those found in uplands. Further,
some wetlands may achieve the distinction of
being amongst the most productive ecosystems
11.2 Wetland Science and Wetland Scientists