BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE AND PLANT COMMUNITIES IN RESTORED AND NATURAL WETLANDS IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

S. A. Wissinger, J. L. Bogo, S. R. Bolden, and S. G. Ingmire. Departments of Biology and Environmental Science, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA 16335

We compared benthic invertebrates and plants in wetlands restored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Partner’s for Wildlife Program” (PFW) to those in reference (> 25 yrs. old) wetlands. Plant diversity at open marsh restoration sites (farm fields) was similar to that at reference sites after only 2 years and vegetation cover was similar to that at reference sites after 3-4 years. Vegetation cover at wooded sites (second growth forest) was extremely low (<20%) compared to that at open sites (60-80%). Invertebrate abundance and diversity were similar in reference and 3-yr PFW marshes, but lower at restored than reference wooded sites. Beetles, odonates, and caddisflies were under-represented and chironomids over-represented at wooded restoration sites. High rates of invertebrate and plant community assembly at open marsh sites are probably related to the presence of remnent populations in ditches and unfarmed wet areas. Odonate (rapid aerial dispersers) species richness in restored marshes was similar to that in reference marshes after only 2 years whereas mollusc diversity levels did not reach natural levels until 5 years after restoration. We propose that molluscs and other passively dispersing taxa should be used as conservative indicators of successful community assembly in restored wetlands.