Wetlands are hydrologically controlled ecosystems essential to estuarine, marine, lacustrine, and riverine productivity. To improve our understanding of these ecosystems we need information on (1) wetland hydrologic variables/ budgets and their relation to wetland vegetation and nutrient cycling; (2) wetland dynamics and boundary fluctuations; (3) wetland functions and values; and (4) short- and long-term temporal changes. Wetland plants may serve as sensitive hydrologic indicators of water-quality parameters such as salinity, turbidity, pH, nutrients; presence of various pollutants; or frequency and duration of inundation. Submersed aquatic wetlands have many functions including (1) providing habitat for invertebrate species; (2) [...]
