Final answer:
Wetlands are environments where the soil is saturated with water either permanently or periodically throughout the year, featuring emergent vegetation and including types like marshes and swamps.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ecosystems where the area is submerged under water at least part of the year are called wetlands. Wetlands are environments in which the soil is either permanently or periodically saturated with water. They exhibit emergent vegetation, which includes wetland plants that are rooted in the soil with parts of leaves, stems, and flowers extending above the surface of the water. Common types of wetlands include marshes, swamps, bogs, mudflats, and salt marshes. These ecologically important areas are characterized by their unique hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation, and hydric soils.