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

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