Chemistry of wetland dredging

[2] It has also been estimated to have a worth of $14.9 trillion and are responsible for 75% of commercial and 90% of recreational harvest of fish and shellfish in the United States.

[3][4] Wetlands also hold an important role in water purification, storm protection, industry, travel, research, education, and tourism.

Redox reactions have a major effect on wetland ecosystems, as they depend heavily on salinity, pH, oxygen availability, and others.

Fluctuations in water flow and flooding can change the abundance of the oxidized or reduced species depending on the environment.

Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that wetlands provide for, directly and indirectly, up to 43% of federally threatened or endangered species.

[4] Wetlands are the leading producer of oysters, 50% of the shrimp crop, 75% of the alligator harvest, 27% of the oil and gas, and the largest port complex in the United States.

[2] Wetlands are highly effective at removing pollutants and excess nutrients due to the slow water flow and absorption by the plant systems.

Redox reactions are highly influential in wetland soil chemistry through transformations including those of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen.

The abundance of each type results in a different ecosystem, as the plants and animals of the wetlands require specific conditions for their growth.

It also results in a reduction of sulfur availability to plant species as it precipitates with trace metals such as zinc and copper.

[2] An example of this is ferrous sulfide (FeS), which gives wetland soils their black color and is the source of sulfur commonly found in coal deposits.

This also changes the physical environment further as the lack of survival of plant species results in open land and increased erosion.