Course Topics

The following topics will be covered in this course. Each topic involves basic concepts and its application and usefulness in addressing environmental ecological significance to wetland restoration, water quality, and other ecological functions. For each topic case studies from southeastern region will be used.

• Introduction

• Wetland community types

• Hydrologic processes

• Phyico-chemical characteristics of wetland soils

• Oxidation-reduction potential (redox potential)

• Gas exchange between soil-plant-water system

• Organic matter decomposition and accretion

• Nitrogen processing capacity of wetlands

• Phosphorus assimilation capacity of wetlands

• Sulfur cycle-importance in coastal marshes and freshwater wetlands

• Metals

• Toxic organic compounds

• Transport processes

• Biogeochemical indicators for wetland assessment

• Field and laboratory demonstrations