The nutrient cycling pattern of wetlands determines the biodiversity they sustain. The hydrological change brought by reclamation is bound to bring a shift in the composition and concentration of plant and animal species that can only be felt in the longer term.
The energy and nutrient flow that governs wetland productivity and the various environmental services should be understood. Tides, sedimentary dynamics, watershed inputs, hydric balance (in surface, underground and coastal waters), water quality, salinity and permanence, local climatic conditions, soils, etc. are all important to investigate.