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How do wetlands provide habitat for both land-dwelling and aquatic species?
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Wetland
Stately bald cypresses (Taxodium distichum) thriving in a Louisiana swamp.
Wetlands function as vital transition zones, or ecotones, situated between terrestrial and deepwater aquatic systems. By combining the attributes of both environments, they provide essential habitat and food sources that support a diverse array of both land-dwelling and aquatic species.12
Because they bridge these two ecological realms, wetlands often exhibit higher biodiversity than adjacent ecosystems. They serve as critical environments for a wide variety of life, including:1
- Aquatic species: Wetlands provide necessary water-based habitats for fish and other organisms adapted to standing or flowing water.13
- Land-dwelling species: They offer food and shelter for various animals and plants that thrive in or near these transitional areas.1
- Migratory and specialized species: Wetlands are particularly important as rich habitats for waterfowl and often serve as the final refuges for rare or endangered species.1
Ultimately, these ecosystems sustain life by integrating the biological requirements of species from both land and water, making them some of the most productive environments on Earth.1