You are here:
ZOOBENTHOS ASSEMBLAGES AS INDICATORS OF LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL WETLAND CONDITIONS
Citation:
Tanner, D K., J. C. Brazner, AND V. J. Brady. ZOOBENTHOS ASSEMBLAGES AS INDICATORS OF LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL WETLAND CONDITIONS. Presented at 2002 Meeting of the International Association of Great Lakes Research, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, June 2-6, 2002.
Description:
Little is known about the diversity or structure of zoobenthos assemblages in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. As part of a comparative study in western Lake Superior we wanted to investigate whether these assemblages might be useful as indicators of wetland condition. We also wanted to determine whether differences in zoobenthos were collected from 10 Lake Superior coastal wetlands representing three wetland types (dendritic estuaries, lagoons, and riverine) that spanned a gradient of land-uses within their watersheds. We collected zoobenthos with funnel traps placed on the bottom substrate for 24 h. Over 100 taxa including, cladocerans, copepods, rotifers, amphipods, mayflies and other invertebrates were collected. Land-use within the watersheds ranged from predominately mature forest to more fragmented watersheds containing small communities, low intensity agriculture, and sewage treatment systems. Combined NMDS/Bray-Curtis ordinations identified separation among sites associated with wetland hydrogeomorphology, watershed fragmentation, and in-wetland habitat factors, suggesting both local and regional processes had important influences on zoobenthos in these wetlands. Our results suggest zoobenthos assemblages should make an excellent indicator group in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.