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Wetland Classification: Hydrogeomorphic System

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The Wetland Book

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Abstract

The hydrogeomorphic classification of wetlands emphasises wetland hydrological processes and functions and their ecological significance within a generalized landscape context. In the hydrogeomorphic classification wetlands are defined as areas inundated or saturated at a frequency to support, and which normally do support, plants adapted to saturated or inundated conditions. The classification system is based on (1) geomorphic setting (i.e., topographic location), (2) dominant water source and its transport (precipitation, surface flow, subsurface flows, groundwater discharge, and artesian upwelling), and (3) hydrodynamics (e.g., the direction of flow and the strength of water movement within the wetland), and groups wetlands into seven classes: (1) DEPRESSIONAL, (2) RIVERINE, (3) MINERAL SOIL WET FLATS, (4) ORGANIC SOIL WET FLATS, (5) ESTUARINE (also referred to as TIDAL FRINGE), (6) LACUSTRINE (also referred to as LACUSTRINE FRINGE), and (7) SLOPES. The classes are considered to have distinctive “ecological character” as they represent the hydrogeomorphic functions of wetlands relating to plant structures, primary production rates, biogenic accumulation rates, and wetland sedimentary fills.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. V & C Semeniuk Research Group, 21 Glenmere Road, Warwick, WA, 6024, Australia

    C. A. Semeniuk & V. Semeniuk

Authors
  1. C. A. Semeniuk
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  2. V. Semeniuk
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Semeniuk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Ecology and Biodiversity, Charles Sturt University Inst. for Land, Water and Society, Albury, New South Wales, Australia

    C. Max Finlayson

  2. Great Somerford, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

    Mark Everard

  3. Chair of Aquatic Ecosystems, UNESCO-IHE Chair of Aquatic Ecosystems, Delft, The Netherlands

    Kenneth Irvine

  4. RM Wetland & Environment Ltd. , Littleworth, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

    Robert J. McInnes

  5. USGS National Wetlands Research Center , Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

    Beth A. Middleton

  6. Dept. of Water Science and Engineering, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education Dept. of Water Science and Engineering, Delft, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands

    Anne A. van Dam

  7. Charles Sturt University , Albury, New South Wales, Australia

    Nick C. Davidson

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Semeniuk, C.A., Semeniuk, V. (2016). Wetland Classification: Hydrogeomorphic System. In: Finlayson, C., et al. The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6172-8_331-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6172-8_331-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6172-8

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