wetlands
Swamps and bogs
Wetlands are areas where land is saturated with water—swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar ecosystems.
The term emphasizes their ecological value: wetlands filter water, control flooding, and support diverse wildlife.
Development often threatens wetlands, making them a focus of environmental protection: The project was halted to preserve the wetlands.
Grassy waterlogged lowland
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- bogAcidic peat wetland
- fenLow marshy ground
- peatlandWetland with accumulated plant matter
estuary · mangrove · delta · floodplain · saltmarsh · muskeg · mire · slough
Swimming birds collectively
- wading birdsLong-legged aquatic fowl
- heronsWading waterbirds with long necks
- egretsWhite wading birds
- ducksWaterfowl or evades
amphibians · frogs · salamanders · fish · turtles · alligators · crocodiles · beavers
Hollow-stemmed marsh plants
- cattailsTall wetland reed
- sedgesGrasslike wetland plants
- rushesMoves very quickly
- sawgrassToothed wetland sedge
water lilies · duckweed · sphagnum · cypress · mangrove · willows · papyrus · cordgrass
Thoroughly soaked through
- floodedCovered with water
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- submergedBelow water's surface
- soggyThoroughly wet and soft
muddy · boggy · hydric · tidal · seepage · water table · drainage · aquifer
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- nurseryRoom for infants
- spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
- biodiversityRange of life forms
food web · carbon sink · filtration · water purification · flood control · erosion control · ecotone · decomposition
Maintaining something's condition
- restorationReturning something to condition
- protectionGuarding against harm
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- refugePlace of safety
reserve · endangered · stewardship · reclamation · buffer zone · watershed · habitat loss · drainage
marsh
Grassy waterlogged lowland
peatland · estuary · mangrove · delta · floodplain · saltmarsh · muskeg · mire · slough · bayou
waterfowl
Swimming birds collectively
- wading birdsLong-legged aquatic fowl
- heronsWading waterbirds with long necks
- egretsWhite wading birds
ducks · amphibians · frogs · salamanders · fish · turtles · alligators · crocodiles · beavers · muskrats
reeds
Hollow-stemmed marsh plants
sawgrass · water lilies · duckweed · sphagnum · cypress · mangrove · willows · papyrus · cordgrass · lotus
saturated
Thoroughly soaked through
soggy · muddy · boggy · hydric · tidal · seepage · water table · drainage · aquifer · permeable
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
biodiversity · food web · carbon sink · filtration · water purification · flood control · erosion control · ecotone · decomposition · detritus
preservation
Maintaining something's condition
- restorationReturning something to condition
- protectionGuarding against harm
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
refuge · reserve · endangered · stewardship · reclamation · buffer zone · watershed · habitat loss · drainage · dredging
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- ecosystemsrainforest, forest, desert, jungle, ocean
- natural areasnature reserve, nature reserves, wilderness areas, wildlife refuge, national park
- nature parksnature reserves, waterfalls, nature reserve, hiking trails, Yellowstone
- wetlandsswamp, swamps, marsh, marshes, marshland
- wildlife habitatswildlife refuge, breeding grounds, nesting sites, forests, game reserve
wetlandsdrylands
Low-rainfall, water-scarce regions
arid lands · deserts · scrublands · badlands · steppes
wetlandswastelands
Uncultivable, empty lands
barrens · salt flats · dead zones · hardpan · rocky outcrops
wetlandshighlands
Elevated, hilly land areas
uplands · high ground · hardpan · rocky terrain · mountainous terrain
- wetland habitatWater-saturated ecosystem
- tropical wetlandsWarm saturated land areas
- coastal wetlandsSaturated shoreline ecosystems
- protected wetlandsLegally conserved soggy ecosystems