Wetlands play important roles in providing ecosystem services by supporting important organisms, conserving biodiversity, moderating microclimate, and promoting nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. However, wetland ecosystems are at considerable risk from natural disturbances (climate change, invasive species, etc.) and anthropogenic stresses (reclamation, urbanization, etc.). Such disturbances, whether natural or anthropogenic, threaten wetland ecosystems not only directly by affecting primary and secondary productivity, community composition and distribution, and biodiversity, but also indirectly, by affecting natural processes by reducing habitat heterogeneity and connectivity. Concurrent with the loss of community structure and ecosystem functions is a loss of ecosystem services that degrade the quality of life of human populations. In an attempt to mitigate for habitat loss, many wetland restoration projects have been conducted. This special webinar focuses on the role of riparian, floodplain, and tidal wetlands in filtering nutrients and ameliorating eutrophication, ecological restoration and utilization of estuarine wetlands, coastal invasive species, and effects of human impacts and climate change on coastal ecosystems.

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