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Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
1998
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
First Advisor
Walter G. Duffy
Second Advisor
Charles G. Scalet
Keywords
biodiversity, wetlands, south dakota
Abstract
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.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Wetlands -- South Dakota
Constructed wetlands -- South Dakota
Biodiversity -- South Dakota
Description
Includes bibliographical references (page 48-52)
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
95
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 1998 K. Dawn Roush. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Roush, K. Dawn, "Biological Diversity of Natural and Created Wetlands in Three Physiographic Regions of South Dakota" (1998). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 381.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/381