10. The Red Lake Wetland: Boundary Principles and Ecologic Characteristics

Systemic analysis—mainly the analysis of interactions between elements of a system and the study of the changes between the systems—has become important for current scientific research, known as global or holistic research. Analysis of the “earth-water” system functioning shows the fact that transfers are regulated through transition areas between terrestrial and aquatic environments, known as wetlands (Romanescu et al. 2009, 2010). The wetlands and deep waters of the mountain units within the Eastern Carpathians have suffered fewer transformations compared to those situated in the lower sectors of the Romanian landform. At the level of the entire country, the morphometric characteristics and the climatic conditions allowed the installment of a large variety of wetlands and their conservation has been sustained by conditions preventing drainages or reduced inhabitation density. The most important argument in conserving and rehabilitating wetlands is represented by the roles they have been playing: regulating the hydrologic cycle; increasing the biodiversity; reducing soil erosion; improving the microclimate; reducing the floods; ensuring natural life conditions for numerous species of plants and animals; tourist destination, etc. (Hurt and Carlisle 2001).