| dc.description.abstract | This study assessed the long-term recovery of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities to wetland restoration. Previous research has suggested that even after a decade post restoration, macroinvertebrate communities may not fully resemble those of undisturbed reference sites, and how effective wetland restorations are in recovering macroinvertebrates is unclear. To assess macroinvertebrate recovery to restoration over long-time frames, thirteen restored and five reference wetlands were sampled in the North Dakota Prairie Pothole Region during July and August of 2019. Restored wetlands ranged from 20 to 32 years post-restoration, within restoration dates spanning between 1987-1999. Differences were examined between reference and restored sites, along with differences between four age categories: 20-26 years (n = 4), 29 years (n = 4), 31-32 years (n = 5) and reference sites (n = 5). No significant differences were found in aquatic macroinvertebrate richness and diversity between reference and restored wetlands, or among restoration age groups. Community composition was also similar among all restoration age groups, with no apparent influence from measured chemical and physical water variables and soil organic matter. These results suggest, within the Prairie Pothole Region, that restored wetlands contain diverse macroinvertebrate communities that resemble undisturbed reference sites after 20 to 32 years post-restoration. | en_US |
