188
on the earth because of their connections to both
upland and aquatic systems.
Our knowledge of different wetland types is,
for the most part, isolated in distinctive literatures
and scientifi c circles. It may be evident that one
set of literature deals with coastal wetlands,
another set with forested wetlands and freshwater
marshes and still another with peatlands. Some
investigators have analysed the properties and
functions which are common to many wetlands.
This is, perhaps, one of the most exciting areas of
wetland research because there is so much to be
learnt. Comparisons of the wetland types have
possibly shown the importance of hydrologic
fl ow through them for the maintenance and productivity of these ecosystems. Another area for
comparative research and which pose many questions is the anoxic biochemical processes, which
are common to almost all wetlands. The questions, which are often not very clearly answered,
are: What are the roles of different wetland types
in regulating local and global biogeochemical
cycles? How are these cycles in different wetland
types infl uenced by the human activities? What
could be the synergistic effects of hydrology,
chemical inputs and climatic conditions on wetland biological productivity? How could plant
and animal adaptations to anoxic stress be compared in various wetland types?
In view of the above, it could be said that a true
wetland ecologist may preferably be an ecological generalist because of the number of sciences
which bear on these ecosystems. Wetland fl ora
and fauna are often uniquely adapted to a substrate which may vary from submerged to dry. It
may be pointed out here that the emergent plant
species may support both aquatic benthic animals
and terrestrial insects. It is important to mention
here that a wetland scientist may preferably be
well versed in surface and groundwater hydrology. It is because hydrologic conditions are so
important in determining the structure and function of the wetland ecosystems. Further, the study
of water and soil of wetlands requires knowledge
and skill of chemistry, botany and zoology for the
identifi cation of wetland fl ora and fauna and for
the analyses of wetland environment. In addition,
background microbial biochemistry and soil
science contribute signifi cantly to the understanding
of the anoxic environment. Knowledge of physiology and biochemistry is required for understanding adaptations of wetland biota to the
fl ooded environment. Certain engineering techniques mainly for wetland hydrologic regulation
are to be learnt, if wetland scientists are to become
more involved in the management of wetlands. It
may be noted here that wetlands are seldom, if
ever, self-sustaining systems. Rather, they interact
strongly with adjacent terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Hence, a holistic view of these complex
ecosystems could be achieved only through an
understanding of the principles of ecology of
these unique ecosystems. Last but not the least,
training in the legal and policy- making aspects of
the wetlands is needed, if wetland management
involves implementation of wetland policy.
Wetlands are studied by many scientists today.
But only relatively a few pioneers have investigated these unique systems in detail prior to the
1960s. Most of the early scientifi c studies dealt
mainly with classical biological surveys or investigations of peat structure. A number of early scientifi c studies were done on peatland hydrology,
mainly in Russia and certain other parts of
Europe. Later, investigators like Chapman, Teal,
Sjors, Gorham, Eugene and HT Odum and their
colleagues and students began to work by using
modern ecosystem approaches in wetland studies. Several research centres had been established
in the USA to study wetlands. Some of them
include the Sapelo Island Marine Institute in
Georgia; the Center for Coastal, Energy, and
Environmental Resources at Louisiana State
University; and the Centre for Wetlands at the
University of Florida and Pacifi c Estuarine
Research Laboratory at San Diego State
University. In addition, there are various wetland
professional societies today, e.g. Society of
Wetland Scientists . One of the main goals of
these societies is to provide a forum for the
exchange of ideas within wetland science and
also to develop wetland science as a distinct
discipline. INTECOL (the International Association of Ecology) usually sponsors a major
International Wetland Conference somewhere in
the world at an interval of every 4 years.
11 Wetlands in the Landscape: Their History, Defi nitions, Origin and Evolution
on the earth because of their connections to both
upland and aquatic systems.
Our knowledge of different wetland types is,
for the most part, isolated in distinctive literatures
and scientifi c circles. It may be evident that one
set of literature deals with coastal wetlands,
another set with forested wetlands and freshwater
marshes and still another with peatlands. Some
investigators have analysed the properties and
functions which are common to many wetlands.
This is, perhaps, one of the most exciting areas of
wetland research because there is so much to be
learnt. Comparisons of the wetland types have
possibly shown the importance of hydrologic
fl ow through them for the maintenance and productivity of these ecosystems. Another area for
comparative research and which pose many questions is the anoxic biochemical processes, which
are common to almost all wetlands. The questions, which are often not very clearly answered,
are: What are the roles of different wetland types
in regulating local and global biogeochemical
cycles? How are these cycles in different wetland
types infl uenced by the human activities? What
could be the synergistic effects of hydrology,
chemical inputs and climatic conditions on wetland biological productivity? How could plant
and animal adaptations to anoxic stress be compared in various wetland types?
In view of the above, it could be said that a true
wetland ecologist may preferably be an ecological generalist because of the number of sciences
which bear on these ecosystems. Wetland fl ora
and fauna are often uniquely adapted to a substrate which may vary from submerged to dry. It
may be pointed out here that the emergent plant
species may support both aquatic benthic animals
and terrestrial insects. It is important to mention
here that a wetland scientist may preferably be
well versed in surface and groundwater hydrology. It is because hydrologic conditions are so
important in determining the structure and function of the wetland ecosystems. Further, the study
of water and soil of wetlands requires knowledge
and skill of chemistry, botany and zoology for the
identifi cation of wetland fl ora and fauna and for
the analyses of wetland environment. In addition,
background microbial biochemistry and soil
science contribute signifi cantly to the understanding
of the anoxic environment. Knowledge of physiology and biochemistry is required for understanding adaptations of wetland biota to the
fl ooded environment. Certain engineering techniques mainly for wetland hydrologic regulation
are to be learnt, if wetland scientists are to become
more involved in the management of wetlands. It
may be noted here that wetlands are seldom, if
ever, self-sustaining systems. Rather, they interact
strongly with adjacent terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Hence, a holistic view of these complex
ecosystems could be achieved only through an
understanding of the principles of ecology of
these unique ecosystems. Last but not the least,
training in the legal and policy- making aspects of
the wetlands is needed, if wetland management
involves implementation of wetland policy.
Wetlands are studied by many scientists today.
But only relatively a few pioneers have investigated these unique systems in detail prior to the
1960s. Most of the early scientifi c studies dealt
mainly with classical biological surveys or investigations of peat structure. A number of early scientifi c studies were done on peatland hydrology,
mainly in Russia and certain other parts of
Europe. Later, investigators like Chapman, Teal,
Sjors, Gorham, Eugene and HT Odum and their
colleagues and students began to work by using
modern ecosystem approaches in wetland studies. Several research centres had been established
in the USA to study wetlands. Some of them
include the Sapelo Island Marine Institute in
Georgia; the Center for Coastal, Energy, and
Environmental Resources at Louisiana State
University; and the Centre for Wetlands at the
University of Florida and Pacifi c Estuarine
Research Laboratory at San Diego State
University. In addition, there are various wetland
professional societies today, e.g. Society of
Wetland Scientists . One of the main goals of
these societies is to provide a forum for the
exchange of ideas within wetland science and
also to develop wetland science as a distinct
discipline. INTECOL (the International Association of Ecology) usually sponsors a major
International Wetland Conference somewhere in
the world at an interval of every 4 years.
11 Wetlands in the Landscape: Their History, Defi nitions, Origin and Evolution