© Amy Youngs_flickrcreativecommons
The bottom-land hardwood forest at Ohio State’s Wetland Research Park connects riparian zones to the Olentangy River and adjacent wetlands. By having a buffer zone of hardwood trees, the bottom-land hardwood forest allows for the entrapment of sediment and nutrient run-off into the Olentangy River. This allows for a healthier wetland ecosystem. The bottom-land hardwood forest also contains a lot of species diversity which increases the biodiversity at the wetland park.