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Title: Response of Aquatic Invertebrates to Ecological Rehabilitation of Southeastern USA Depressional Wetlands

Journal Article · · Wetlands
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States). Dept. of Entomology
  2. South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources, Eastover, SC (United States); Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Ecology Lab. (SREL)
  3. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Ecology Lab. (SREL)
  4. Univ. of North Georgia-Oconee, Watkinsville, GA (United States). Dept. of Biology
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We assessed aquatic invertebrate response to ecological rehabilitation treatment in 20 depression wetlands on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, USA. All wetlands had been ditched for 50+ years. Sixteen of the 20 wetlands received rehabilitation treatment, and four wetlands remained untreated as a control group. Treatment included logging of all trees, plugging drainage ditches, and planting wetland trees and grasses. Hydroperiods were consequently extended in most of the treatment wetlands. As part a larger study, we sampled macroinvertebrates and microcrustaceans during the pre-habilitation (1998–2000) and rehabilitation (2001–2003) phases. Our study spanned 2 years of high rainfall (1998 and 2003) and 4 years of low rainfall (1999–2002). Samples were collected bimonthly from any wetlands holding water. Macroinvertebrate assemblages in treatment wetlands in 2003 had changed from previous years (1998–2002) and compared to control wetlands (1998–2003), with abundances of Baetidae, Coenagrionidae, Dytiscidae, Chironomidae, and Chaoboridae driving variation. For microcrustaceans (Copepoda and Branchiopoda, including Cladocera, Anostraca and Laevicaudata), assemblage composition and species richness responded mainly to hydrologic conditions. Rehabilitation efforts in these wetlands induced diverse and abundant invertebrate communities to develop, but some responses appeared opportunistic; several taxa that benefitted were not typical residents of depressional wetlands in the region.

Research Organization:
USDA Forest Service-Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (AU), Office of Security
Grant/Contract Number:
AI09-00SR22188
OSTI ID:
1191534
Report Number(s):
USDA-15-09-P; USDA--15-09-P
Journal Information:
Wetlands, Vol. 35, Issue 4; ISSN 0277-5212
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 8 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Aquatic macroinvertebrate community responses to wetland mitigation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem journal March 2019

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Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
Carolina bays
Hydrology
Macroinvertebrates
Microcrustaceans
Opportunism
Wetland restoration