Soil properties predict plant community development of mitigation wetlands created in the Virginia Piedmont, USA
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Published source details
Dee S.M. & Ahn C. (2012) Soil properties predict plant community development of mitigation wetlands created in the Virginia Piedmont, USA. Environmental Management, 49, 1022-1036.
Published source details Dee S.M. & Ahn C. (2012) Soil properties predict plant community development of mitigation wetlands created in the Virginia Piedmont, USA. Environmental Management, 49, 1022-1036.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Restore/create freshwater marshes or swamps (specific action unclear) Action Link |
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Restore/create freshwater marshes or swamps (specific action unclear)
A replicated study in 2009 of four created freshwater marshes in Virginia, USA (Dee et al. 2012) reported that they contained wetland vegetation after 3–10 years. In all four marshes, the overall plant community was characteristic of wetland conditions (data reported as a wetland indicator index). There were 4–5 plant species/m2 and 19–27 plant species/marsh. Of these, 70–84% were wetland-characteristic and 20–26% had been sown. Overall vegetation cover was 99–106%, including 24–65% sown species and 1–26% non-native. Above-ground vegetation biomass was 770–1,830 g/m2. Most tested metrics did not significantly differ between wetlands of different ages: overall cover, sown cover, species richness and diversity, and vegetation quality. However, older wetlands did have a plant community characteristic of slightly drier conditions, and the oldest wetland supported the lowest vegetation biomass (see original paper for data). Methods: The four wetlands were created between 1999 and 2006 (details not reported, except that some herb seeds were sown). Vegetation was surveyed in August or September 2009 (16–32 quadrats/marsh). Plant species and their cover were recorded across the whole of each 1-m2 quadrat. All standing vegetation was cut from 0.25 m2 subquadrats, then dried and weighed.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
