Biological Diversity of Natural and Created Wetlands in Three Physiographic Regions of South Dakota

Extensive wetland drainage has occurred in the coterminous United States since European settlement. Because wetlands continue to be destroyed and degraded, mitigation through restoration, creation or enhancement is required to maintain wetlands and the species they support. Therefore, this project was designed to compare biological diversity between natural and created wetlands in three physiographic regions of South Dakota: Prairie Coteau (PC), Missouri Coteau (MC), and Southern Plateau (SP). Wetlands in the PC and MC of the prairie pothole region were sampled in 1995 and 1996. Wetlands in the SP of the Northern Great Plains region were sampled in 1996. Within each region, macrophyte, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate, and bird communities were sampled in three natural and six created wetlands each year. Macrophyte and terrestrial invertebrate communities in created wetlands were comparable in diversity and richness with natural wetlands. Aquatic invertebrate diversity in created and natural wetlands were similar. Among physiographic regions, diversity of aquatic invertebrates was highest in the MC. These wetlands were seasonal; whereas, all other wetlands were semipermanent. Seasonal wetlands tend to inhabit high diverse and rich communities. In the PC, taxa richness was greater in natural wetlands than in created wetlands; however, in the SP region, taxa richness was greater in created wetlands than in natural wetlands. Natural wetlands were much larger than created wetlands in the PC. Differences in richness in the SP were attributed to differences in the morphometry of wetlands. Natural wetlands in the SP were playas and tended to be shallow while created wetlands were deeper and possessed greater spatial habitat. Bird communities were somewhat similar in diversity between natural and created wetlands. Overall, created wetlands were comparable in biological diversity to natural wetlands in these physiographic regions and appeared to be an adequate management tool for wetlands losses in South Dakota.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - University Access Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Year

1998

Author dc:creator

• Roush, K. Dawn

Contributors dc:contributor

• Walter G. Duffy
• Charles G. Scalet

• biodiversity
• wetlands
• south dakota
• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 1998 K. Dawn Roush. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/381

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1381