Agricultural landuse impacts on wetland functional values

Abstract

This review discusses wetland functional values and how they are affected by different land-use practices. Those commonly cited are: 1. hydrological values (water purification; streamflow regulation, including flood attenuation and baseflow augmentation; and groundwater discharge and recharge); 2. erosion control value; and 3. ecological value (maintenance of biotic diversity through the provision of habitat for wetland-dependent fauna and flora). THE FUNCTIONAL VALUES OF WETLANDS (2) Water purification (2.1) Wetlands may contribute substantially to the improvement of water quality by removing sediment, excess nutrients (most importantly nitrogen and phosphorus) and toxicants (including metals, organic pollutants such as pesticides, bacteria and viruses and biological oxygen demand). Wetlands have several attributes that enhance their water purification potential, including: 1.

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