Wetlands are among the most productive and ecologically significant components of the aquatic ecosystem, functioning as dynamic interfaces between terrestrial and aquatic environments. They include marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, floodplains, mangroves, estuaries, and shallow lakes, each characterized by water saturation, hydrophytic vegetation, and hydric soils. Despite occupying a relatively small proportion of the Earth’s surface, wetlands deliver a wide array of ecosystem services that are vital for ecological balance, human well-being, and sustainable development. These services are broadly ecological, hydrological, biogeochemical, climatic, economic, and socio-cultural in nature, and their interdependence highlights the integrated functioning of aquatic ecosystems. One of the most critical ecosystem services provided by wetlands is biodiversity support. Wetlands serve as habitats, breeding grounds, and nurseries for a vast range of flora and fauna, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, invertebrates, and microorganisms. Many aquatic and semi-aquatic species depend entirely on wetlands for survival, while migratory birds rely on them as stopover and feeding sites along migratory routes. High primary productivity in wetlands supports complex food webs, making them hotspots of biological diversity. This biodiversity not only has intrinsic ecological value but also underpins other ecosystem services such as fisheries, pollination, and genetic resources. Wetlands play a fundamental role in hydrological regulation within aquatic ecosystems. They act as natural sponges that absorb, store, and slowly release water, thereby regulating river flows, groundwater recharge, and surface runoff. During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, wetlands reduce the intensity of floods by retaining excess water and releasing it gradually downstream. In dry seasons, stored water helps maintain base flows in rivers and streams, supporting aquatic life and human water needs. This flood moderation and drought buffering capacity is particularly significant in riverine and coastal regions, where wetlands reduce the vulnerability of human settlements to extreme hydrological events. Water purification is another major ecosystem service offered by wetlands. Through physical, chemical, and biological processes, wetlands improve water quality by trapping sediments, removing nutrients, and filtering pollutants. Wetland vegetation slows water movement, allowing suspended particles to settle, while soils and microbial communities facilitate nutrient cycling and the breakdown of organic matter. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff are absorbed or transformed through processes such as denitrification, reducing eutrophication in downstream aquatic systems. Wetlands also help immobilize or detoxify heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants, making them natural wastewater treatment systems that protect freshwater and marine environments. Wetlands are integral to nutrient cycling and biogeochemical regulation within aquatic ecosystems. They function as sinks, sources, and transformers of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. High rates of primary production and decomposition in wetlands drive complex nutrient exchanges between water, soil, and atmosphere. For example, nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with wetland plants convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms, while denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into gaseous nitrogen, regulating nutrient loads in aquatic systems. These processes maintain