Topical Collection: “INTECOL Wetlands 2025” and “Wetland Soils, Biogeochemistry, and Microbiology”

Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that play a critical role in global biogeochemical cycles, carbon and nutrient storage, water purification, and biodiversity conservation. Their functioning is shaped by complex interactions among hydrology, soil properties, plant and microbial communities, and biogeochemical processes.

This Topical Collection brings together cutting-edge research on the structure and function of wetland soils, microbial dynamics, and the biogeochemical processes driving nutrient and greenhouse gas fluxes. Contributions span natural and managed wetlands across diverse climatic regions, with particular emphasis on responses to environmental change, land use, restoration, and governance.

The collection is also supported by the LiWeFoR (Living Labs for Wetland Forest Research) project, which focuses on greenhouse gas emissions in forests and their links to microbial processes, ecosystem functions, and restoration outcomes across temperate and tropical regions.

We welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to:

· Soil biogeochemistry and greenhouse gas emissions

· Microbial ecology of wetland soils (functional and phylogenetic diversity)

· Nutrient cycling (C, N, P, S) in natural and constructed wetlands

· Peat formation, degradation, and decomposition dynamics

· Effects of drainage, rewetting, and restoration on soil and microbial processes

· Methodological innovations in wetland soil, plant and microbiological research

· Interdisciplinary studies linking soil, microbial, hydrological, and social–ecological processes

This collection aims to highlight the central role of soils, plants, and microbiota in wetland ecosystem functioning and resilience, while fostering dialogue across disciplines including wetland ecology, soil science, microbiology, biogeochemistry, and social–ecological systems research.

Website link: https://link.springer.com/journal/13157

Submission deadline 15^th of November.

Editors:

Dr. Mikk Espenberg

University of Tartu, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Tartu, Estonia

Dr. Ülo Mander

University of Tartu, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Tartu, Estonia

Dr. Angela Gallego-Sala

University of Exeter, United Kingdom

Dr. Lulie Melling

Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Malaysia

Dr. Klaus Holger Knorr

University of Münster, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Münster, Germany

Dr. Stephen Sebestyen

USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Grand Rapids, MN, USA

Topical Collection: “INTECOL Wetlands 2025 (Tartu, Estonia)”

This Topical Collection of Biogeochemistry features original research presented at the 12th INTECOL Wetlands Conference and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Europe, held in Tartu, Estonia, from June 29 to July 4, 2025.

Estonia, a relatively undiscovered wetland-rich country, hosts diverse ecosystems, including raised bogs, fens, swamp forests, and coastal marshes. With 50% forest cover, a significant portion of which is peatlands, Estonia provides a fitting venue to advance effective wetland management strategies during this critical time. There is much to explore in Estonia, and you are always welcome to return for another visit.

The Tartu conference, drawing over 300 participants from 37 countries, takes place amid global turbulence—yet it underscores a shared faith in science and a better future for all.

Previous INTECOL Wetlands Conferences were held in New Delhi, India (1980); Trebon, Czechoslovakia (1984); Rennes, France (1988); Columbus, Ohio, USA (1992); Perth, Australia (1996); Quebec City, Canada (2000); Utrecht, the Netherlands (2004); Cuiabá, Brazil (2008); Orlando, Florida, USA (2012); Changshu, China (2016); and Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand (2021).

The 2025 conference features 9 major topics, 15 symposia, 2 workshops, and 12 plenary speakers, addressing cutting-edge research on wetlands’ social and economic dimensions, biogeochemistry, hydrology, ecology and biodiversity, tropical wetlands, ecosystem services, restoration, monitoring, and peatlands.

Papers in this collection span microscale studies—such as microbial and rhizosphere dynamics—to macroscale research involving integrated monitoring and modeling.

The conference is supported by the University of Tartu, City of Tartu, SWS Europe, Enterprise Estonia, the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), and others. Its success reflects the dedication of the local organizing team and the strong institutional support of the University of Tartu.

Website link: https://link.springer.com/journal/10533 

Guest Editors

• Dr. Paweł Jarosiewicz, European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
• Dr. Zhongli Chen, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, China

Special Issue Description

Wetland ecosystems, including floodplain wetlands and floodplain lakes, represent some of the most dynamic and productive ecological systems on Earth. Their functionality is inherently tied to hydrological regimes that control nutrient dynamics, biodiversity development, and carbon cycling. However, these ecosystems are under increasing pressure from hydrological alterations, land-use changes, and climate variability. This Special Issue will present recent advancements in ecohydrology research, focusing on the critical processes that govern floodplain ecosystems transformation, resilience, and restoration.

This issue is inspired by contributions to the scientific session Ecohydrology and Wetland Ecosystem Succession and Application at INTECOL Wetlands Conference (June 29-July 4, 2025, Tartu, Estonia) and aims to deepen the understanding of ecohydrological feedbacks that shape wetland succession stages and influence ecosystem service delivery. A central theme is the role of hydrological connectivity in driving the succession and recovery of wetlands, particularly in the context of floodplain restoration, which offers opportunities to reactivate natural water dynamics, enhance biodiversity, and boost carbon and nutrient retention.

We welcome contributions that explore:

• The interplay between hydrology and wetland vegetation dynamics, including water level fluctuations and seedbank responses
• Soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and nutrient cycling under various successional stages
• Carbon and nutrients fluxes in riverine and wetland systems under changing climate and anthropogenic pressures
• Ecohydrological modeling approaches and tools for restoration planning
• Case studies on the restoration of floodplains, wetland lakes, and riparian zones, with a focus on the re-establishment of hydrological regimes
• Integration of ecohydrological principles (e.g., WBSRC – Water, Biodiversity, Sediment, Retention, Connectivity) into adaptive catchment and wetland management strategies
• Multi-scalar assessments of biotic and abiotic interactions in wetlands across urban, agricultural, and forested landscapes

By highlighting the restoration of floodplains and the reactivation of hydrological connectivity, this Special Issue aligns with the mission of Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology to promote ecosystem-based approaches to water management and enhancement of the aquatic ecosystems resilience. It invites interdisciplinary research that bridges hydrology, ecology, soil science, and environmental management.