Even prior to SWANCC, federal regulation of wetlands was insufficient for protection of most small, isolated wetlands (Semlitsch and Bodie 1998). However, in future considerations of isolated wetlands, scientists need to embrace the concept that, in addition to the isolation itself, the term ‘‘land’’ may be as important as ‘‘wet’’ to the majority of animal species inhabiting the wetland. Protecting wetlands as traditionally delineated is inadequate because wetland definition lacks a biologically based ecosystem perspective. The idea that both aquatic and terrestrial habitat comprise a wetland must be communicated not only to the scientific community but also to the general public, land managers, and appropriate legislative bodies with a goal of strengthening the protection of wetland communities. Regional biodiversity will suffer progressively under current federal interpretations unless state regulations are successfully implemented to address the jurisdictional wetland losses resulting from the SWANCC decision.