FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES WITHIN NATURAL AND CONSTRUCTED WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS : SHORT-TERM VERSUS LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES

Several basic processes are emphasized: macrophyte productivity; macrophyte life history strategies, succession and biodiversity under constant pollutant stress; importance of standing dead and particulate detritus; functions and controlling mechanisms in pollutants retention and recycling; coupling of microbial metabolism to macrophyte retention of pollutants; gazeous losses to atmosphere; losses of organic matter and its utilization; water losses by evapotranspiration.