ECOTOXICOLOGY AND WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS - CURRENT UNDERSTANDING AND FUTURE-NEEDS

The term wetlands refers to a mosaic of important ecosystems that typi cally form transition zones between uplands and aquatic environments. These areas provide support functions for natural and living resources and mediate biogeochemical transformations of global significance. It is becoming clear that the introduction of toxic and other contaminan ts to large wetland areas has contributed to a series of undesirable t rends in habitat quality; availability of valuable fish and wildlife; and quality of associated resources, including surface and ground wate rs. The purpose of this review is to indicate the importance of wetlan ds to regional and global ecology and discusses research on the effect s of contaminants in wetland ecosystems. Areas of needed future resear ch also are suggested.