What are characteristics that are unique to wetlands?

  Wetlands must have one or more of the following three attributes: 1) at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes; 2) the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and 3) the substrate is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season of each year.

Explanation:The minimum essential characteristics of a wetland are recurrent, sustained inundation or saturation at or near the surface and the presence of physical, chemical, and biological features reflective of recurrent, sustained inundation or saturation.

affects the water bodies: excessive use of fertilizers causes eutrophication. the fertilizers which are used on plants affect the quality of land on which it is used, further causing erosion of soil. the fertilizers used on plants contain harmful chemical fumes which affect the environment.