ABSTRACT
Marsh ecosystems interact with suspended sediments in water moving through the wetland. Low water velocities, coupled with the presence of plant stem, leaves and litter, promote settling and interception of solid materials. This transfer of suspended solids from the water to the wetland sediment bed has important consequences for the quality of the water, as well as the properties and function of the wetland ecosystem. Total suspended solids are measured gravimetrically after filtration and drying, and reported in mg/L. Turbidity in water is caused primarily by suspended matter, although soluble colored organic compounds can contribute. Therefore, turbidity is sometimes used as a surrogate for gravimetric measurement of suspended matter. The suspended solids entering a treatment wetland may display widely varying characteristics, according to the source water involved. Two main types of particle generation may be manifest in a treatment marsh, chemical precipitation and biological generation.
