Wetlands, Function & Value: - PDF Free Download

Wetlands, Function & Value: Natural, Restored, & Constructed August 12, 2015 Dr. David Locky PWS, P.Biol

Wetlands are the only ecosystem in the world recognized by international treaty, the Ramsar Convention

David Locky What are the functions & values found in the different wetland types?

David Locky How similar are restored (and constructed) wetlands to their natural counterparts? David Locky

How do we know if restoring (and constructing) wetlands is successful? David Locky

Overview 1) Wetlands in Alberta 2) Function & Value 3) Restore, Construct, Reclaim 4) Restoration Efficacy

1. Wetlands in Alberta

Wetland Defined Land saturated with water to promote wetland or aquatic processes poorly drained soils, hydrophytic vegetation various kinds of biological activity

Wetlands are not transitional ecosystems but discrete ecosystems unto themselves

Two Wetland Types? Peat-forming? No Yes Mineral Soil Wetland Peatland Bird Canada.com D.A. Locky

Prairie wetlands form via surface* & subsurface water D.A. Locky

Muskeg via paludification D.A. Locky

Alberta s Two Wetland Regions Stoneman R., C. Bain, D. Locky, N. Mawdsley, M. McLaughlan, S. Kumaran-Prentice, M. Reed, and V. Swales. 2013. Chapter 19: Policy Drivers for Peatland Conservation. In Peatland Restoration and Ecosystem Services: Science, Policy, and Practice. A. Bonn, T. Allot, M. Evans, H. Joosten, and R. Stoneman (Eds.). Ecological Review Series, Cambridge University Press, UK.

Five Wetland Classes Mineral Soil Wetland Peat-forming? No Yes Peatland Shallow Water Wetland Bog Marsh Fen Swamp Shrub Conifer D.A. Locky

D.A. Locky Shallow Water Wetland

D.A. Locky Marsh

Marsh & Shallow WW D.A. Locky

Shrub Swamp (Mineral Soil) D.A. Locky

Marsh & Shrub Swamp D.A. Locky

What about riparian areas? a) Latin riparius : bank of a river b) Specific meanings by application c) High water mark on land - open water D.A. Locky

Riparian Importance a) Sharp gradients in environmental factors, ecological processes, and plant communities b) Ecotones, variety of habitats c) High diversity (terrestrial & aquatic spp) d) Minor by area, major by significance e) Intricate linkages between land & water f) Buffer to terrestrial impacts

Riparian areas are not necessarily wetlands but can include wetlands

Riparian Areas - South Cows and Fish Wetland area often minimal

Riparian Areas: North (Boreal) Channel Riparian Upland? Wetland High Water < 2m Low Water SHALLOW WATER WETLAND MARSH OPEN FEN SHRUB FEN TREED FEN CONIFER SWAMP Wetland area often maximal D.A. Locky

NSWA 2012 Vermilion Watershed

Vermilion Wetland Drainage NSWA 2012

NSWA 2012 Vermilion Wetlands (2004)

2. Restore, Construct, Reclaim

Terminology I. Reclamation Recovering disturbed land to former productivity II. III. Restoration Actions taken in degraded wetlands resulting in reestablishment of ecological functions leading to a persistent, resilient, system integrated within landscape Construction Designed and managed wetland systems that simulate the functioning of natural wetlands for human use and benefits

3. Function & Value

Function encompasses the science based performance of a wetland whereas value includes a socio economic usefulness factor

Wetland Function I. Sources Water Sediment (Peat) Biodiversity II. Sinks Water Sediment (Peat) III. Transformers Biogeochemistry Water Physical Forces D.A. Locky D.A. Locky D.A. Locky D.A. Locky D.A. Locky D.A. Locky D.A. Locky

Functional Kusler 1983 Differences 1. Type 2. Size 3. Location

USGS Functional Differences

Wetland Value Flood Control Groundwater Recharge Shoreline Stabilization and Storm Protection Sediment and Nutrient Retention, and Export Climate Change Mitigation, Water Purification Reservoirs of Biodiversity Wetland Products Recreation and Tourism Cultural Value

Wetland Productivity

Flood Reduction U.S. Government

Wetlands as Filters Highly effective at removing sediments, excess nutrients, pollutants Mineral Soil Wetlands, Not Peatlands Natural vs. restored vs constructed?

Riparian Buffers McElfish, J.M., Jr., R.L. Kihslinger, and S. Nichols. 2008

Ephemeral Wetlands Important & critical in many parts of the world Alberta: Wet spots on prairie & fields Considered a nuisance & farmed: Poor quality Link upland ecosystem process & maintain biodiversity Conservation priority Environment Canada

Wetlands & Biodiversity a) Important far beyond borders b) Maintain hydrology of adjacent areas c) Temporary habitat & refuge for upland spp Natural vs. restored vs constructed? D.A. Locky D.A. Locky D.A. Locky

Natural Wetlands & Diversity Wagner Natural Area (215 ha) 471 vascular & non-vascular plants 6000 invertebrates Hymenopterans (22.6%) Coleoptera (5.6%) Diptera (29.3%) Lepidoptera (31.3%) Spiders, etc. (11.2%) 30% of the 20,000 estimated insects & spiders in Alberta!

a) Source or sink? Depends on age, operation (location, climate, etc.) b) Complex cycle: CO 2 & CH 4 c) Constructed wetlands? Fluxes higher! More capacity! But takes longer!

Not all wetlands perform all functions nor do they perform all functions well

Peatlands most common wetland in Alberta but among the poorest at flood prevention!

Keystone Ecosystems Ecosystems whose influence & significance are greater than their size Endangeredecosystems.crg D.A. Locky D.A. Locky D.A. Locky

Wetlands are Alberta s Keystone Ecosystem Locky, D.A. 2011. Wetlands, Land Use, & Policy: Alberta s Keystone Ecosystem at a Crossroads. AIA Green Paper.

Flood Control: Nutrient Filtration: Water Supply: $237,000 / ha / year $185,734 / ha / year $719,651 / ha / year Costanza et al. 1997

Wetlands are worth more per hectare than most other ecosystem types $19,580 / ha / year Costanza et al. 1997

AB Wetland Policy As of summer 2014 new Alberta Wetland Policy and its tools enabled in White Zone Green Zone to come online in summer 2015

Mitigation System A v o i d The Minimize Ideal! Compensate

Mitigation System Compensate The Minimize reality Woops! Avoid Clare, S, N. Krogman, L. Foote and N. Lemphers. 2011. Where is the avoidance in the implementation of wetland law and policy? Ecology and Society

3. Restoration Efficacy

How comparable are restored (and constructed) wetlands to natural wetlands?

Principle Ecosystem Services

Wetland Restoration: How Effective is it? Effectiveness is controversial! = different standards of evaluation 1. Restoration can recover much of the biodiversity and ES lost due to degradation 2. But, positive impacts depend strongly on factors such as ecosystem type and restoration action = too slow & incomplete?

Wetland Restoration: How Effective is it? How to address? 1. DEGRADED vs. RESTORED vs. NATURAL 2. Assess by diverse types of organisms

Does Restoration Work? Restoring degraded wetlands enhances biodiversity by 19% Biodiversity in restored wetlands not significantly different from that in natural wetlands Restored vs. Degraded Restored vs. Natural

Restored vs. Degraded Wetlands Overall ecosystem services supply is 43% higher in restored wetlands!

Restored vs. Natural Wetlands but Ecosystem services are 13% lower than in natural wetlands!

Restored vs. Degraded Wetlands Biodiversity & ES are related!

Restored vs. Natural Wetlands Biodiversity & ES still related!

Success Context Dependent! 1. Main Cause of Degradation 2. Restoration Action 3. Experimental Design 4. Ecosystem Type 5. But not Restoration Age!

Restoration Success by Ecosystem Type 1. Salt marshes (+104%) 2. Rivers (+100%) 3. Freshwater marshes (+73%) 4. Lakes (+45%) 5. Mangroves (+33%) 6. Streams (+9%)

Much of what we do is effective! Restored vs. Degraded

But in some areas we re lagging Restored vs. Natural

Synopsis Wetlands critical part of environment, by function and value Many losses but also opportunities Conservation is priority, but restoration (& construction) are key tools Appropriate methods and monitoring regimes required to determine degree of restoration efficacy and success

Thank you! Questions? Dr. David Locky, PWS, P.Biol. lockyd@macewan.ca