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Spatial Distribution of Small Water Body Types across Indiana Ecoregions
Citation:
Christensen, J., M. Nash, D. Chaloud, AND A. Pitchford. Spatial Distribution of Small Water Body Types across Indiana Ecoregions. ECOHYDROLOGY. Wiley Interscience, Malden, MA, 8(4):1-32, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
Investigating the distribution of small water bodies (pond, wetlands, retention basins etc) for ecoregions in Indiana as a first step for determing cumulative effect of SWBs on biogeochemical, biological, and hydrologic processes
Description:
Due to their large numbers and biogeochemical activity, small water bodies (SWB), such as ponds and wetlands, can have substantial cumulative effects on hydrologic, biogeochemical, and biological processes; yet the spatial distributions of various SWB types are often unknown. Using updated National Wetland Inventory data, we describe the spatial distribution of SWB types among various ecoregions within the state of Indiana. Of 203,942 total SWB, 75% contain a permanent water feature and 80% of those SWB are classified as excavated or impounded ponds. Density-log area plots show predominantly impoundment ponds in the southern forested region with the greatest densities at 0.1 ha. Northern agricultural regions have high densities and greater cumulative area of vegetated SWB than other regions. All ecoregions show declines in numbers of SWB <0.1 ha and deviate from power law predictions below 0.1 ha despite a detection limit of 0.04 ha. These declines may reflect a legacy of wetland removal and pond creation practices. The analysis of SWB distributions is the first step in understanding cumulative SWB influences on various ecological processes in agricultural settings.