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Created stormwater wetlands as wetland compensation and a floristic quality approach to wetland condition assessment in central Alberta

In Alberta, almost all created wetlands accepted as compensation have been naturalized stormwater management facilities. Our investigation of 32 created and natural wetlands in central Alberta determined that created wetlands have steeper shoreline slopes, largely as a result of their primary function as stormwater retention ponds. This resulted in distinctly different vegetation zonation, with the steeper slopes of created wetlands resulting in fewer, narrower wetland vegetation zones. This was reflected in reduced species richness and abundance of wetland songbirds at created wetlands. This study also discusses the development of a Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) approach, a standardized, quantitative approach to measuring wetland condition, for Albertas Parkland and Boreal natural regions. I present plant survey data from the 32 wetlands as validation of the effectiveness of this approach. This study provides information on current wetland compensation practices and a potential wetland assessment tool; both topics that are directly relevant to the implementation of wetland compensation policies in Alberta. / Ecology

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:AEU.10048/1576
Date11 1900
CreatorsForrest, Andrew SM
ContributorsBayley, Suzanne (Biological Science), Foote, Lee (Renewable Resources), Paszkowski, Cindy (Biological Science)
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format670027 bytes, application/pdf

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