2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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5/27/2021  |   2:00 PM - 3:30 PM   |  Macroinvertebrate communities respond rapidly to wetland restoration in western Kentucky   |  Virtual Platform

Macroinvertebrate communities respond rapidly to wetland restoration in western Kentucky

Wetlands improve the quality of our nation’s streams, rivers, and lakes, and they support a diverse assemblage of plant and animal species. Each year, billions of dollars are spent on a variety of projects focused on restoring wetlands, such as the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). Our main objective for this study was to quantify macroinvertebrate richness, diversity, and abundance on easements enrolled in WRP. Our study sites include restoration easements of various ages and mature bottomland forests, which represent pre-disturbance “reference” wetlands. Hydrological modification structures, such as levee breaks, ditch plugs, or shallow water areas have been installed on each easement to improve connectivity and water retention from adjacent rivers. Stovepipe cores and dip-nets were used to collect macroinvertebrates at each site. Invertebrate richness, diversity, and abundance closely resembled reference-standard wetlands within a few years post-restoration. The frequency, intensity, and duration of inundation at each site were the primary variables influencing invertebrate community structure. Because new easements are permanently enrolled, there is tremendous potential to quantify increases in physical and biological condition. Understanding how these easements respond to restoration will provide opportunities for adaptive management in subsequent years.

  • Management
  • Biodiversity
  • Land use

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Presenters/Authors

Christy Soldo (), Murray State University, csoldo@murraystate.edu;


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Kinga Stryszowska-Hill (), Murray State University, kstryszowskahill@murraystate.edu;


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Howard Whiteman (), Murray State University, hwhiteman@murraystate.edu;


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Michael Flinn (), Murray State University, mflinn@murraystate.edu;


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