wetland inside gateway sanctuary in geelong city, melbourne, australia (pix sshukla)

animal anoxic aquatic biodiversity biologically bodies bogs brackish carbon cattails change climate conservation control decomposition degradation discharge ecological ecosystem emissions environmental estuaries fens fixation flood flooded floodplains freshwater groundwater health hydric marshes meltwater methane nitrous nutrients oceanic oxide oxygen-free permanently plant plants pollutants ponds protection purification rainfall reed replenishment reservoir saltwater seasonally sedges seeps sequestration services shoreline shrubs sinks soil soils source springs stabilization storage storm swamps tidal tides trees vegetation vernal water wetland wetlands woody