Restoration Ecology and Function of Plants in Wetlands
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Diversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 118
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biological invasion; functional traits; interspecific competition; invasive plants; clonal plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: wetland; ecology
Interests: wetland; ecology; conservation
Interests: synthetic microbial community; plant polysaccharide; microbial ecology; microbiome and metabolome
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Successful wetland restoration requires understanding not only how species re‑establish, but how plants functionally respond and adapt to degraded or stressful environments. Beyond species composition, the recovery of wetland ecosystem processes hinges on the mechanisms by which plant traits, strategies, and adaptive capacities drive productivity, nutrient cycling, and resilience under conditions of hydrological alteration, salinization, eutrophication, contamination, or temperature extremes.
This Special Issue focuses on the functional and adaptive roles of plants in wetland restoration, emphasizing how species- and genotype-level variation in functional traits supports ecological recovery and long‑term stability. We particularly welcome studies that:
- Quantify how physiological, morphological, and genetic traits of wetland plants mediate tolerance and resilience to environmental stressors;
- Investigate a broad suite of adaptive mechanisms—from phenotypic plasticity, local adaptation and parental effects to clonal integration and other physiological or demographic strategies—that enable plants to persist and function in degraded or dynamic wetlands;
- Link trait-based or adaptation-based metrics to ecosystem processes such as primary production, nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, and habitat structuring;
- Integrate multi-scale approaches—from molecular and microbial symbioses to community and landscape levels—using tools such as genomics, molecular markers, rhizosphere analysis, isotopic tracing, and remote sensing;
- Evaluate restoration interventions (e.g., hydrological manipulation, species/genotype selection, soil and microbial amendments) that harness plant functional diversity to accelerate ecosystem recovery.
While we emphasize these themes, please note that the Special Issue is not limited to the topics listed above. Submissions addressing other relevant theoretical, methodological, or applied aspects of plant-driven wetland restoration are strongly encouraged.
By assembling research that couples plant functional ecology with restoration practice, this Special Issue aims to clarify the mechanisms through which plants rebuild and sustain wetland ecosystems under stress. We invite original articles, reviews, meta‑analyses, and case studies that bridge evolutionary, physiological, and ecological perspectives to advance restoration theory and practice toward resilient, multifunctional wetlands.
Prof. Dr. Xiao Guo
Prof. Dr. Bo Guan
Dr. Fangli Luo
Dr. Lele Liu
Dr. Tong Wang
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- restoration ecology
- genetic and phylogenetic variation
- functional traits and physiology
- plant–soil–microbe interactions
- biogeochemical cycle
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
