Sediment excavation as a wetland restoration technique had early effects on the developing vegetation community

摘要: Excavating agriculturally-accrued sediment from wetland basins is an increasingly common restoration technique worldwide, but the impacts on recruiting native plant communities are unknown. Multiple agencies developed a monitoring protocol to document how restoring hydrology and removing excess impacted assemblages both before up 6 years after restorations in North American prairie potholes. Our results indicated that excavated had marginally greater probabilities of increased total standing water, habitat interspersion, relative diversity, as well lower having invasive plants hybrid cattails (Typha  × glauca), when compared unexcavated basins. By year 4, 50% probability extensive cattail invasion, whereas 85% cattails. However, benefits excavation were typically negated by species encroachment within 3–6 years of post-restoration. Therefore, vegetation may benefit excavations also coupled with targeted management first few years combat invasion. This long-term program could be continued revised include post-restoration activities (e.g., seeding, control techniques, prescribed fire) using adaptive framework provide prompt feedback managers regarding efficacy alternative management.