Introduction | Subject Headings | General Databases |
Specialized Databases | Web Resources | Books | Journals | Maps

Introduction

Wetlands are areas that are permanently or periodically covered by water. They are very important ecosystems that serve as filters to contaminants and are home to many endangered and threatened plants and animals. Agriculture and urbanization have made wetlands scarce in Illinois and other parts of the world.

There are many differing types of wetlands, and various words are used to describe wetlands including bogs, fens, kettle holes, marshes, muskegs, peatlands, riparian areas and swamps. There exists a plethora of information about wetlands, so narrowing your search to a particular type of wetland or geographical region is more likely to help you find useful information.

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Subject Headings

There are many Library of Congress subject headings which you may want to use to look for books and journals in Illinet Online (the online catalog for UIUC and 65 other libraries in Illinois). You can divide many of these subject headings further by geography (e.g. wetlands conservation-- Illinois).

Wetlands Bogs (narrower topic) Constructed wetlands (narrower topic) Fens (narrower topic) Forested wetlands (narrower topic) Marshes (narrower topic) Moors (narrower topic) Muskeg (narrower topic) Peatlands (narrower topic) Riparian areas (narrower topic) Swamps (narrower topic) Tidal flats (narrower topic) Wetland Agriculture (May subdivide geographically) Wetland farming (use Wetland Agriculture) Dambo Farming (narrower term) Wetland Animals (May subdivide geographically) Wetland fauna (use Wetland Animals) Aquatic animals (broader term) Bog animals (narrower term) Marsh animals (narrower term) Moor animals (narrower term) Riceland animals (narrower term) Swamp animals (narrower term)

Wetland conservation (May subdivide geographically) Nature conservation (broader term) Estuarine area conservation (narrower topic) Mangrove conservation (narrower topic) Moor conservation (narrower topic) Peatland conservation (narrower topic) --Law and legislation (May subdivide geographically) Wetland ecology (May subdivide geographically) Ecology (broader term) Bog ecology (narrower topic) Marsh ecology (narrower topic) Moor ecology (narrower topic) Peatland ecology (narrower topic) Swamp ecology (narrower topic) Wetland landscape design Wetland design (use Wetland landscape design) Wetland Plants (May subdivide geographically) Wetland flora (use wetland plants) Bog plants (narrower topic) Helophytes (narrower topic) Marsh plants (narrower topic) Moor plants (narrower topic) Muskeg plants (narrower topic) Peatland plants (narrower topic) Swamp plants (narrower topic)

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General Databases

Check out Tips for Searching Databases for pointers
on constructing searches.

The type of paper you are writing will help you determine what types of databases you will want to use to find articles about wetlands. Does your instructor require scholarly journals or magazine articles as sources? Many magazines have articles about wetlands that may serve as valuable sources. However, if your instructor prefers that you use scholarly, research-oriented journals, you may need to search specialized databases.

In order to find articles, you will want to go to the articles databases page or use the suggested databases below.

Click here to go to a listing of Article Databases.

Here are a couple of recommended general databases:

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Specialized Databases

After searching the general databases, you may want to try a database specialized for the biological sciences or sciences for more research oriented articles on wetlands.

Here are some specialized databases to try:

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Web Resources

Ducks Unlimited
http://www.ducksunlimited.org

Ducks Unlimited is an organization committed to the conservation of wetlands. The web site contains information on their conservation activities, an education link, and how one can become a member of the organization.

Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands

EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW) Wetlands web site contains information on Federal laws, regulations, guidelines, and executive orders regarding wetlands and water quality issues. Information is also provided on interagency wetlands plans, partnerships, landowner assistance and stewardships. A Draft Guiding Principles for Constructed Treatment Wetlands: Providing Water Quality and Wildlife Habitat is also available on the web site.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wetlands Program
http://dnr.state.il.us/wetlands

The IDNR Wetlands program web site contains a lot of information about wetlands in Illinois, including identification, functions and value, research, status, and regulations.

Information on Wetlands
http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/wetlands/index.html

This web page is part of WaterSHEDSS (WATER, Soil, and Hydro- Environmental Decision Support System) program based out of North Carolina State University and contains information on what wetlands are, why they are important, human impact, government programs, and management.

Know Your Watershed - Wetlands
http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/Brochures/Wetlands.html

This page from the Know Your Watershed web site discusses wetlands and their role in watershed management. It includes links to state contacts, news, education, and other web sites.

National Wetlands Inventory Center
http://www.nwi.fws.gov

This division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which maintains computer databases including digitized wetlands data, on wetlands and deep water habitats in the United States. Data is available on the Internet, and can be downloaded at no cost.

NatureServe
http://www.natureserve.org

A joint effort of the Association for Biodiversity Information and the Natural Heritage Network, offers authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals, and ecological communities of the United States and Canada.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act
http://northamerican.fws.gov/NAWCA/grants.htm

This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site provides information on this program which was enacted in 1989. The act provides grant funding to support wetlands conservation activities.

Sierra Club: Clean Water and Wetlands
http://www.sierraclub.org/wetlands

Part of the Sierra Club’s web site that provides current information on wetlands, including reports, fact sheets, and the latest news on wetlands.

So, You Have a Wetland in Your Neighborhood...
http://www.epa.gov/Region5/publications/wetneighbor.pdf

An Environmental Protection Agency brochure written for the general public on what wetlands are and why they are important.

The U.S. Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center
http://www.nwrc.gov

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) home page contains a large volume on information regarding wetlands, including data services page provides links to other databases, a list of research issues, and education links. Visitors may also search the USGS NRWC library, and obtain information on interlibrary loan procedures.

The Wetlands Initiative
http://www.wetlands-initiative.org

A non-profit Illinois corporation dedicated to restoring wetlands. The web site contains information on what wetlands are and why they are important, various publications, and projects they are involved with.

Wetlands in the Great Lakes Region
http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/air-land/wetlands.html

This web page is part of the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) and contains information and links about wetlands in the Great Lakes region in both the U.S. and Canada.

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Books and Other Print Sources

America's wetland : Louisiana's vanishing coast / photographs by Bevil Knapp ; text by Mike Dunne (2005)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.91809763 D922a

Ancient Maya life in the Far West Bajo : social and environmental change in the wetlands of Belize / Julie L. Kunen (2004)
Location: Education Stacks -- Call Number: 972.826 K962a

Aquatic and wetland plants of northeastern North America / Garrett E.Crow (2000)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: Q. 581.92 F26m2000

Assessment of created wetland performance in Illinois / Allen E. Plocher and Jeffrey W. Matthews (2004)
Location: Main Stacks -- Call Number: 333.91816 P721x
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.91816 P72a

Black-crowned night-herons of the Lake Calumet Region, Chicago, Illinois / (2005)
Location: Natural History [non-circulating] -- Call Number: 570.5 Is1 v.37

Characterization of high elevation central Appalachian wetlands / Karen E. Francl, W. Mark Ford, Steven B. Castleberry (2004)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 577.6830974 F848c

Clean Water Act / by Joel Gross, Lynn Dodge (2005)
Location: Law -- Call Number: KF3790 .G76 2005

Clean Water Act : review of proposed revisions to Section 404 definitions of "fill" and "dredged fill" : hearing before the Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, and Climate Change of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session, June 6, 2002 (2004)
Locations: Law, Main Stacks -- Call Number: DOC. Y 4.P 96/10:S.HRG.107-1000

Coastal restoration : where have we been, where are we now, and where should we be going? / edited by Mary E. Kentula and Gordon W. Thayer (2005)
Location: Geology Stacks -- Call Number: 577.51 C6525

Conservation and Ecology of Turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region--a Symposium : Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, Maryland, 30-31 October 1999 / edited by Christopher W. Swarth, Willem M. Roosenburg, Erik Kiviat (2004)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 598.13 C765c1999

Creating freshwater wetlands / Donald A. Hammer (1997)
Location: Biology Stacks -- Call Number: 333.91815 H183C1997

Desert wetlands / Lucian Niemeyer ; text by Thomas Lowe Fleischner (2005)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: Q. 577.680979 N555d

Dynamics and biogeochemistry of river corridors and wetlands : proceedings of the International Symposium on Dynamics and Biogeochemistry of River Corridors and Wetlands (S4) : held during the Seventh Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) at Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, 3-9 April, 2005 / edited by Louise Heathwaite ... [et al.] ; the symposium was organized by the International Commission on Water Quality (ICWQ), Surface Water (ICSW), and Groundwater (ICGW) (2005)
Location: Geology -- Call Number: 551.46 In83p1 no.294

Ecology and conservation of birds of the Salton Sink : an endangered ecosystem / W. David Shuford and Kathy C. Molina, editors (2004)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 598.40979499 Ec73

Ecology of wetlands and associated systems / edited by S.K. Majumdar, E.W. Miller, Fred J. Brenner (1998)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.918153 Ec73

Forested Wetlands : Functions, Benefits And The Use Of Best Management Practices / David J. Welsch et al. (1995)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.9180973 F761

Provides definitions of the term wetlands, characteristics of different types of wetlands including a discussion of soil types, vegetation and wildlife. Trends of wetlands in the northeastern area of the United States as well as wetlands best management practices are included. Many full color photos as well.

A Great Lakes wetland flora : a complete, illustrated guide to the aquatic and wetland plants of the Upper Midwest / Steve W. Chadde. (1998)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 581.7680977 C344g

A Guide to Bottomland Hardwood Restoration / J.A. Allen ... [et al.] (2004)
Location: Main Stacks Govt. Documents -- Call Number: DOC. I19.210:2000-0011

Harrisburg potential wetland compensation site : Level II hydrogeologic characterization report / Geoffrey E. Pociask (2004)
Location: Geology CDROMs -- Call Number: CDROM 557.73992 P739h

Illinois Wetland Restoration And Creation Guide / Alicia Nugteren Admiraal et al. (1997)
Locations: Biology Stacks, Main Stacks, Natural History Stacks, Natural History Reference -- Call Number: Q. 577.6809773 IL6

Emphasized are ways in which to restore the quality of wetlands. Each stage of wetland restoration is outlined with practical examples and descriptions. Intended primarily for students of biology and natural resource professionals this book is a wealth of information. Appendices provide a glossary of important terms, natural resource agencies, wetland community descriptions, vegetative cover types, sample wetland project documents, and various field forms to serve as examples for field biologists.

In Search Of Swampland : A Wetland Sourcebook And Field Guide / Ralph W. Tiner. (1998)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.9180974 T493i

Provides a good introduction to wetlands including a field guide with a dichotomous key to wetland plants and animals. This is an excellent resource for undergraduates through wildlife professionals.

Inconsistent regulation of wetlands and other waters : hearing before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, second session, March 30, 2004 (2005)
Locations: Law, Main Stacks Govt. Documents -- Call Number: DOC. Y 4.T 68/2:108-58

Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands of North America : Ecology and Management / edited by Darold P. Batzer, Russell B. Rader,
and Scott A. Wissinger (1999)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 592.1768097 In8

Landscape planning : environmental applications / William M. Marsh (2005)
Location: City Planning Stacks -- Call Number: 712 M354l2005

Liberation ecologies : environment, development, social movements / edited by Richard Peet and Michael Watts (2004)
Location: Undergrad Stacks -- Call Number: 363.7 L6152004

Limnological characteristics of waterfowl production area wetlands in St. Croix and Polk counties, Wisconsin / by Richard A. Lillie (2004)
Location: Natural History [non-circulating] -- Call Number: 639 W7541t no.195

Managing wetlands on golf courses / Gary Libby, Donald F. Harker, Kay Harker ; with contributions from Jean Mackay (2004)
Location: ACES Stacks -- Call Number: 577.68 L614m

Marsh mission : capturing the vanishing wetlands / C.C. Lockwood, Rhea Gary (2005)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: Q. 779.309763 L814l

National Registry Of Wetland Professionals (1996)
Location: Natural History Reference -- Call Number: 333.91802573 N213

This is a sourcebook of people who work with wetlands. It also includes a brief description of federal, state, and local statutes and regulations.

National Water Summary on Wetland Resources / by U.S. Geological Survey; Judy D. Fretwell, John S. Williams, and Phillip J. Redman, compilers.
Location: Main Stacks Govt Docs -- Call Number: DOC. I19.13:2425
Location: Natural History Reference -- Call Number: 333.91815 N213

This is a gigantic resource that contains an overview of wetland resources, a national water summary, and state by state summaries of wetland resources.

New Jersey plants & animals / Mark Stewart (2004)
Location: Education S Collection -- Call Number: S.578 St496n

Our national wetland heritage : a protection guide / Jon A. Kusler and Teresa Opheim (1996)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 346.73046918 K968O

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon migration from creosote-treated railway ties into ballast and adjacent wetlands [electronic resource] / Kenneth M. Brooks (2004)
Location: Government Documents Online Collection -- Call Number: ONLINEDOC. A 13.78:FPL-RP-617

Prairie Wetland Ecology : The Contribution Of The Marsh Ecology Research Program / edited by Henry R. Murkin, Arnold G. van der Valk, and William R. Clark. (2000)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 577.68 P884

This book presents the long-term, multi-disciplinary studies done by the Marsh Ecology Research Program on the "basic factors controlling the productivity of prairie wetlands." It also presents the nutrient dynamics models and management recommendations.

Saving America's wetland : strategies for restoration of Louisiana's coastal wetlands and barrier islands / Charles W. Finkl and Syed M. Khalil, editors (2005)
Location: Geology Stacks -- Call Number: 577.5109763 Sa267

Simulation of runoff and wetland storage in the Hamden and Lonetree watershed sites within the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota and Minnesota / by Kevin C. Vining, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ... [et al.] (2004)
Location: Geology Stacks -- Call Number: 550 Sci277 2004-5168
Location: Main Stacks Govt. Documents -- Call Number: DOC. I19.42/4-4:2004-5168

SWANCC Supreme Court decision : impact on wetlands regulations : hearing before the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, first session, to receive testimony on federal regulation of wetlands following the Supreme Court's decision in the case of "Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers" (SWANCC), June 10, 2003 (2004)
Locations: Law, Main Stacks Govt. Documents -- Call Number: DOC. Y 4.P 96/10:S.HRG.108-352

Technical procedures for wetlands status and trends [electronic resource] : operational version (2005)
Location: Government Documents Online Collection -- Call Number: ONLINEDOC. I 1.2:P 94/6

This tender place : the story of a wetland year / Laurie Lawlor (2005)
Location: Main Stacks -- Call Number: 578.76809775 L423t

The U.S. Caribbean region : wetlands and fish, a vital connection (2004)
Location: Main Stacks Govt. Documents -- Call Number: DOC. C55.302:C19

Walking the Wetlands:  A Hiker's Guide to Common Plants and Animals of Marshes, Bogs, and Swamps / Janet Lyons and Sandra Jordan (1988)
Location: Undergrad Reference -- Call Number: 574.973 L995W

Water : no longer taken for granted / Helen S. Fisher (2004)
Location: Uni High Stacks -- Call Number: 628.10973 F533w2004

Waters and wetlands [electronic resource] : Corps of Engineers needs to evaluate its district office practices in determining jurisdiction : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives (2004)
Location: Government Documents Online Collection -- Call Number: ONLINEDOC. GA 1.13:GAO-04-297

Wetland and riparian areas of the intermountain West : ecology and management / edited by Mark C. McKinstry, Wayne A. Hubert, and Stanley H. Anderson (2004)
Locations: City Planning Stacks, Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 577.680979 W534

Wetland Birds:  Habitat Resources and Conservation Implications / Milton W. Weller (1999)
Locations:  Natural History Stacks, Undergrad Stacks -- Call Number: 598.1768 W458w

Wetland ecology : principles and conservation / Paul A. Keddy (2000)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 577.68 K237w

Wetland indicators : a guide to wetland identification, delineation, classification, and mapping / Ralph W. Tiner (1999)
Locations: City Planning Stacks, Natural History Stacks  -- Call Number: 551.41 T493w

Wetlands / general editors, Max Finlayson and Mike Moser (1991)
Location: City Planning Stacks, Undergrad Stacks -- Call Number: Q. 574.526325 W5348

Wetlands / William J. Mitsch, James G. Gosselink (2000)
Location: City Planning Stacks -- Call Number: 333.918 M697W1993
Location: Natural History -- Call Number: 333.918 M697W2000

Wetlands / edited by Sharon L. Spray & Karen L. McGlothlin (2004)
Location: City Planning Stacks -- Call Number: 333.918 W5347

Wetlands / Lynn M. Stone (2004)
Location: Education S Collection -- Call Number: S.577.68 St71w

Wetlands : characteristics and boundaries / Committee on Characterization of Wetlands (1995)
Location: Biology Stacks, City Planning Stacks -- Call Number: 333.9180973 W534

Wetlands deskbook / Margaret N. Strand (1997)
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 346.73046918 W5342 1997

Wetlands ecosystems in Asia : function and management / edited by Ming H. Wong (2004)
Location: ACES Stacks -- Call Number: 577.68095 W534

Wetlands law and policy : understanding Section 404 / Kim Diana Connolly, Stephen Johnson, Douglas R. Williams (2005)
Location: Law -- Call Number: KF5624 .W55 2005

Wetlands Of The World : Inventory, Ecology, And Management / edited by Dennis Whigham, Dagmar Dykyjová and Slavomil Hejný. (1993)
Location: Biology Stacks -- Call Number: 333.918 W5345

Wetlands, streams, and other waters : regulation, conservation, mitigation planning / Paul D. Cylinder ... [et al.] (2004)
Location: City Planning Reference -- Call Number: 575.5263 W5342004

The world's largest wetlands : ecology and conservation / edited by Lauchlan H. Fraser, Paul A. Keddy (2005)
Location: City Planning Stacks -- Call Number: 333.91816 W893

Journals

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Location: Online or Natural History Stacks -- Call number: 333.9521605 AQ

Audubon
Location: Online, Biology Stacks, Undergrad Stacks, Main Stacks -- Call Number: 598.05 BI

Current Topics in Wetland Biogeochemistry
Location: Natural History Stacks --  Call Number: 574.526325 C936

E:   The Environmental Magazine
Location: Online, Undergrad Stacks -- Call Number: 363.7005 EN

Great Lakes Wetlands
Location: Natural History Stacks --  Call Number: 574.52632505 GR

Journal of Freshwater Ecology
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 574.5263205 JO

Journal of Limnology
Location: Online, Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 591.92 V582m1

National Wetlands Newsletter
Location: Law Stacks -- Call Number: QH75.A1 N38X
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 574.52632505 NA

SWS Bulletin / Society of Wetland Scientists
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.91805 SW2

Wetland Journal
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.91805 WE

Wetland matters : newsletter of the Wetlands Initiative
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 333.918 W534w

Wetlands Ecology and Management
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call Number: 574.52632505 We

Wetlands: The Journal of the Society of the Wetlands Scientists
Location: Biology Stacks -- Call Number: 333.918 W5342

Wildlife Conservation
Location: Natural History Stacks -- Call number: 590.5 NEW1
This magazine publishes articles about endangered wildlife and wild lands and the efforts to save them. Focuses on articles about recent conservation efforts of individual species and conditions affecting global wildlife diversity.

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Maps

Illinois Wetlands Maps- The Illinois Natural History Survey Library (196 Natural Resources Building) has a collection of topographic maps of the wetlands in Illinois. These maps locate and classify the states wetlands and rivers and lakes. Ask for assistance at the desk for the use and location of these maps. An index is available to help you find the area of Illinois you are interested in.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Maps (FEMA)- The Water Survey Library (2204 Griffith Drive) has a collection of FEMA maps. These maps are primarily used by property owners to determine the flood risk of their properties. They include information on floodplain boundaries and have flood elevations. Each map is numbered and there is an index map to find the corresponding number to an area in question.

Last Updated: 12/30/05 elb