How do the unique biological, chemical, and physical processes of peatlands sustain their structure and function within global ecosystems? Håkan Rydin, a professor of plant ecology, synthesizes decades of research to explain the formation and maintenance of peat-forming wetlands. The text utilizes a multidisciplinary framework, integrating hydrology, soil science, and plant physiology to analyze how these carbon-sequestering environments operate across different climatic zones. It argues that understanding the specific interactions between vegetation and water chemistry is critical for predicting the future of these habitats under changing environmental conditions.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for students and researchers in wetland ecology due to its comprehensive synthesis of complex biological data. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous technical overview of peatland systems.