| Feature | Riparian ecosystems | Uplands |
| Moisture regime | Wetter | Drier |
| Species composition | Vegetated cover is dominated by hydrophytes | Vegetated cover is dominated by upland or terrestrial communities; forested or non-forested |
| Biologically productive functions | More | Few |
| Soil drainage | Poorly drained soils, the soil surface is frequently flooded or saturated | Well drained soils, even if the soil surface is seasonally flooded or saturated |
| Source of water | Moisture in riparian areas may be supplied from both uplands and aquatic ecosystems | Precipitation as their principal or only source of water |
| Lateral transport of materials | Present | Absent |