HR: 1330h
AN: NB33C-12    [Abstracts]
TI: Topsoil Removal in a Restored Peat Wetland: an Experimental Study
AU: * Hausman, C E
EM: chausman@kent.edu
AF: Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent, oh 44242 United States
AU: Fraser, L
EM: Lfraser@cariboo.bc.ca
AF: Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, PO Box 3010, Kamloops,, BC V2C 5N3 Canada
AU: de Szalay, F A
EM: ferenc@kent.edu
AF: Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent, oh 44242 United States
AB: Topsoil removal is a common practice in wetland restoration projects for eliminating the weed seed bank, any persistent herbicides or pesticides, as well as lowering the soil surface closer to the water table. In 2000, a peat wetland that was drained 85 years ago for agriculture was restored by removing 40-50 cm of topsoil, seeding wetland plants, and reestablishing wetland hydrology. In 2004, six 100m2 scraped plots and six adjacent 100m2 unscraped control plots were sampled in North and South fields. Plant percent cover and aboveground biomass was measured in each plot. Depth to the water table was greater in the North field because this field had a higher elevation than the South field, which was partially submerged. Total biomass was greater in the North field than in the South. In the North field, species diversity and richness were higher in treatment plots than control plots, but there was no difference in the South field. Dominant species were different between the control and treatment plots and between North and South fields. These results indicate that both water levels and topsoil removal have dramatic impacts on plant community establishment in restored wetlands.
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1851 Plant ecology
DE: 1890 Wetlands
DE: 9902 NABS Student Award Applied Research
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly