A comparison of plant communities and water chemistry at Sandhill Wetland to natural Albertan peatlands and marshes

• Published in: Ecological engineering Vol. 169; p. 106313
• Main Authors: Hartsock, Jeremy A., House, Melissa, Clark, M. Graham, Vitt, Dale H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aquatic plants; Bryophytes; Chemistry; Diversity indices; Fen; Fens; Freshwater plants; Groundwater table; Marsh; Marshes; Mine reclamation; Oil Sand; Open pit mining; Peatlands; Plant communities; Plant populations; Plant species; Plants; Polls & surveys; Principal components analysis; Reclamation; Riparian environments; Sandhill Fen Watershed; Soil; Soil erosion; Soil water; Soils; Surveying; Water chemistry; Water levels; Water table; Wetland; Wetlands; Marsh; Oil Sand; Sandhill Fen Watershed; Wetland; Fen; Reclamation
• ISSN: 0925-8574; 1872-6992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106313

Plant communities and water chemistry properties were characterized at Sandhill Wetland; an experimental reclamation site constructed above a backfilled open pit mine in northeastern Alberta, Canada. Observations from the reclamation site were compared to 12 mature reference wetlands (10 fens and 2 marshes) to determine the type of natural wetland the site most closely resembles at its current successional stage. From this survey of 20 research plots distributed across Sandhill Wetland, 44 plant species were encountered (35 vascular plants and 9 bryophytes). Using multivariate approaches, diversity indices, and coefficient of conservatism values, results indicate areas with water levels above the soil surface at Sandhill Wetland are most comparable to regional marshes, with Typha latifolia and Carex aquatilis exhibiting the highest cover. Across the wetland periphery where water levels are several centimeters below the soil surface, plant communities were quite dissimilar from the reference sites and dominated by the grass Calamagrostis canadensis. Based on principle components analysis, we show water chemistry at Sandhill Wetland is in a state that is between marshes and saline fens. Sandhill Wetland overall possesses a unique set of structural and chemical features in the sixth year of development. In areas where water levels are above the soil surface there is potential for development into a slightly brackish marsh analogue. The successional trajectory of low water table position areas is somewhat uncertain as the wetland periphery exhibited mixed characteristics resembling those of wet meadow, riparian, and upland environments, which we did not survey. •Sandhill Wetland plant communities resemble regional marshes in some areas•Plants have sorted out into spatially distinct zones due to water level preference•Sodium concentrations have increased annually at Sandhill Wetland since inception•Sodium-tolerant plants are present at Sandhill Wetland, albeit at low abundance•Further monitoring should continue to track potential community shifts