The total area of wetlands in the study region decreased by a quarter (4598km2), and the area of irrigated wetlands decreased more than that of other wetland types.
The results derived from the ecosystem service value fluctuation index (ESVFI) showed that from 1987 to 1997, the value of the ecosystem services provided by S. glauca and P. australis wetlands decreased, whereas that of S. alterniflora wetlands increased continuously.
The area of urban and grassland increased, but farmland, forest and wetland decreased.
A specifically designed constructed wetland decreased copper concentrations in a wastestream to ⩽22 μg Cu/L and eliminated associated toxicity.
After one year's operation, the calcium content on the surface of the granules in the constructed wetland decreased obviously, whereas phosphorus content increased greatly.
Results about species diversity (including species richness and Shannon Wiener index) showed similar tendency: the species diversity in restored wetland decreased gradually to close to the natural wetland after increases from R4 to R2 (Fig. 3).
Areas associated with springs and small streams will probably experience near-term changes, and some riparian areas and wetlands may decrease in size over time.
Commonly, that will lead to wetland area decrease and affect the wetland landscape.
The area of meadow and wetlands has decreased.
Our analysis shows that since 1984 forests and wetlands have decreased in size and number and those that remain have become increasingly isolated within the agricultural mosaic.
