Forested Wetlands of the Southeast: Review of Major Characteristics and Role in Maintaining Water Quality

摘要

The productive and ecologically diverse forested wetlands occupying the floodplains of major rivers in the Southeast are produced and maintained by fluvial processes and periodic flooding. The shift between aerobic and anaerobic conditions in the floodplain soil in response to flooding facilitates the assimilation of nutrients and organic matter, hastens the degradation of persistent pesticides, and decreases the bioavailability of heavy metals.