Wetlands are among some of the most productive and biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. Their very diversity has produced a fragmented area of study where each wetland type has tended to be considered in isolation. In contrast, Paul Keddy - winner of the 2007 National Wetlands Award for Research - provides a synthesis of the existing field of wetland ecology, using a few central themes. These themes include basic characteristics of wetlands, key environmental factors that produce wetland community types and some unifying problems such as assembly rules, restoration and conservation. The volume draws upon a complete range of wetland habitats and geographic regions including Californian vernal pools, Amazonian floodplains and Russian peat bogs. No other book provides ecological syntheses over the entire geographical and habitat range of wetlands, making Wetland Ecology essential reading for anyone planning research or management in wetland habitats, regardless of specific area of interest.