See the section on Phosphorus in the Water Quality and Land Treatment Information section for an in-depth discussion of this compound. Carbon Wetlands store carbon within peat and soil. Storing carbon is an important function within the carbon cycle, particularly given observations of increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and concerns about global warming. When wetlands are drained, the oxidizing conditions increase organic matter decomposition, thus increasing the release of carbon dioxide. When wetlands are preserved or restored, the wetlands act as a sink for carbon since organic matter decomposition is stable or slowed.
Wetlands are capable of reducing sulfate to sulfide.
Sulfate may exist in soils or may enter wetlands through tidal flow or atmospheric deposition. Suspended solids Wetlands filter suspended solids from water that comes into contact with wetland vegetation. All soils contain at least a low concentration of metals but in some locations human activities have resulted in metal levels high enough to cause health or ecological risks in water resources. Metals may exist in wetland soils or enter wetlands through surface or ground water flow. Iron hydroxides are particularly important in retaining meta ls in salt marshes.