Praise for the previous editions of Wetlands: "Wetlands, the field of study, would not be what it is without Wetlands, the book." --Bill Streever, Wetlands, 2001 "The Third Edition of this highly successful book manages to set new standards in presentation and content to confirm its place as the first point of reference for those working or studying wetlands." --Chris Bradley, University of Birmingham, UK, Regulated Rivers: Research and Management "This book is the wetlands bible...the most wide-ranging [book] on the subject." --Carl Folke, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Land Use Policy "The single best combination text and reference book on wetland ecology." --Joseph S. Larson, University of Massachusetts, Journal of Environmental Quality "First on my list of references to recommend to someone new to wetland policy management or science." --Jay A. Leitch, North Dakota State University, Water Resources Bulletin For more than two decades, William Mitsch and James Gosselink's Wetlands has been the premier reference on wetlands for ecologists, land use planners, and water resource managers worldwide-a comprehensive compendium of the state of knowledge in wetland science, management, and restoration. Now Mitsch and Gosselink bring their classic book up to date with substantial new information and a streamlined text supplemented with a support web site. This new Fourth Edition maintains the authoritative quality of its predecessors while offering such revisions as: Refocused coverage on the three main parts of the book: 1. An introduction to the extent, definitions, and general features of wetlands of the world; 2. Wetland science; and 3. Wetland management. New chapter on climate change and wetlands that introduces the student to the roles that wetlands have in climate change and impact that climate change has on wetlands. Increased international coverage, including wetlands of Mexico and Central America, the Congolian Swamp and Sine Saloum Delta of Africa, the Western Siberian Lowlands, the Mesopotamian Marshland restoration in Iraq, and the wetland parks of Asia such as Xixi National Wetland Park in eastern China and Gandau Nature Park in Taipei, Taiwan. This expanded coverage is illustrated with over 50 wetland photographs from around the world. Several hundred new refer?ences for further reading, up-to-date data, and the latest research findings. Over 35 new info boxes and sidebars provide essential background information to concepts being presented and case studies of wetland restoration and treatment in practice.