Degree Year
2008
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Biology
Committee Member(s)
John Petersen, Chair
Roger Laushman
David Benzing
Keywords
Wetland restoration, Marsh, Biodiversity, Water quality, Invasive species, Ecological restoration, BEF
Abstract
In order to characterize water quality, plant community diversity, and invasive species management at a restored wetland, I have analyzed data collected from June 2004 to August 2007 at the George Jones Memorial Farm in New Russia Township, Ohio. The Jones wetlands site is comprised of six emergent, herbaceous marshes that were restored on an old-field site in 2003. The six cells were constructed using a uniform physical restoration treatment, managed uniformly for invasive species, and replanted using three planting treatments. Each planting treatment was applied to two wetlands; treatments included two designer plantings of native taxa and one self-designing control. Water quality data was collected weekly during the growing seasons of 2004-7 and plant diversity data was collected each summer. Restoration at the Jones wetlands has engendered the development of six stable, diverse marshes. Wetlands planted with native species have higher macrophyte diversity than unplanted wetlands and may show signs of different ecosystem functioning. Phalaris arundinacea displaced cattail (Typha sp.) as the most troublesome invasive taxon, although management of invasive taxa was progressively less time-consuming each year of the study. Continued post-restoration monitoring at the Jones wetlands is of great importance. Additional management recommendations are also offered.
Repository Citation
Grossman, Jake J., "Assessment of Four Years of Marsh Restoration at the Jones Farm Experimental Restoration Facility in Northeast Ohio: Water Quality, Plant Community Development, and Adaptive Management" (2008). Honors Papers. 434.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/honors/434
