| degraded wetland | <ecology> A wetland which has been altered by man through impairment of some physical property and in which the alteration has resulted in a reduction of biological complexity in terms of species diversity of wetland-associated species which previously existed in the wetland areas. (09 Oct 1997) |
|---|
| degraded | 1. Reduced in rank, character, or reputation; debased; sunken; low; base. "The Netherlands . . . Were reduced practically to a very degraded condition." (Motley) 2. <biology> Having the typical characters or organs in a partially developed condition, or lacking certain parts. "Some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons." (Dana) 3. [Cf. F. Degre step. Having steps; said of a cross each of whose extremities finishes in steps growing larger as they leave the center; termed also on degrees. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| artificial wetland | <ecology> Wetlands created by the activities of man, either purposefully or accidentally. (09 Oct 1997) |
| manmade wetland | <ecology> Any wetland area that has been purposely or accidentally created by some activity of humans. (09 Oct 1997) |
| perched wetland | <ecology> Wetlands away from stream or river influence with water made available by general drainage. (09 Oct 1997) |
| riparian wetland | <ecology> Riparian vegetation composed primarily of woody hydrophytes (for example, such as willows, alders, cottonwoods, sycamores, box elders, aspens, etc.). (09 Oct 1997) |
| wetland hydrology | <ecology> In general terms, permanent or periodic inundation or prolonged soil saturation sufficient to create anaerobic conditions in the soil. (09 Oct 1997) |
| wetland indicator status | <ecology> The exclusiveness with which a plant species occurs in wetland, the different indicator categories (i.e., facultative species, and obligate wetland species) are defined elsewhere in this glossary. (09 Oct 1997) |
| moss-lichen wetland | <ecology> A wetland dominated by mosses (mainly peat mosses) and lichens with little taller vegetation. (09 Oct 1997) |
| comprehensive wetland determination | <ecology> A type of wetland determination that is based on the strongest possible evidence, requiring the collection of quantitative data for all three wetland identification criteria. (05 Jan 1998) |
| problem area wetland | <ecology> A wetland that is difficult to identify because it may lack indicators of wetland hydrology and/or hydric soils, or its dominant plant species are more common of nonwetlands. (09 Oct 1997) |
| historic wetland | <ecology> An area of land that is no longer a wetland but which once was, usually refers to areas that were wetlands at the beginning of the Gold Rush (1849). (09 Oct 1997) |