With their saturated soils, fine sediment, and decaying organic matter, Freshwater Marshes provide extensive breeding and foraging grounds for a great diversity of living things. Formed by the natural infilling of ponds and shallow lakes, Freshwater Marshes are one of the most ecologically diverse and important habitats of the Acadian Forest Region. They provide a home for aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish, waterfowl, and mammals. Far more than mosquito breeding grounds, Freshwater Marshes act as natural filters, purifying ground and surface water. As it is now understood how essential Freshwater Marshes are to biodiversity, much work is being done to restore wetlands across the region.