Wetlands - Lentic Ecosystems

Wetlands are permanently or periodically water covered areas. They can be defined as submerged or saturated lands either artificially or naturally, and either periodically or permanently up to a depth of six metres by water which may be fresh brackish or saline.

These wetlands may be classified into two categories Inland wetlands which occur inland and contain fresh water e.g. bogs, swamps, etc. Coastal wetlands which occur near the coast and contain saline or brackish waters, e.g. mangrove swamps, mangrove forests.