In wetlands with short or pulsing hydroperiods, nutrient inflow is high and that directly affects productivity. Organic matter accumulation is partially a result of saturation. Nutrient availability directly influences species composition and diversity. This has been well-studied in peatlands where there are direct relationships to plant diversity and nutrients. Hydroperiod also affects plants directly by influencing salt content, erosive force, depth and duration of flooding, spatial heterogeneity of a wetland site Table 4-7 Primary productivity is an often used measure of a site richness.
Hydrology controlling nutrients affects primary productivity.