Loading of nutrients to surface waters causes changes in ecological function, and often has undesirable environmental and economic consequences.
Wetlands perform many important biogeochemical functions in watersheds.
The P cycle in wetlands plays an important role in transport, storage and biological availability of P in the surrounding watershed. Organic matter, including plant detritus, organic sediments and peat is broken down by a variety of microorganisms that utilize organic carbon as a source of energy. Organic P compounds are broken down to smaller organic molecules, both particulate and dissolved, and ultimately to orthophosphate, which may be utilized as a nutrient by the microorganisms or diffuse back into the soil or water. These phosphate minerals are potentially very stable in the soil, affording long-term storage of phosphorus. The buried material represents the portion of organic matter that is more resistant to decomposition.