•  
  •  
 

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF ALGAE AND BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES IN RESTORED AND CREATED WETLANDS**

Abstract

Algae and other microbial communities are strongly influenced by water quality and therefore can serve as indicators of aquatic systems’ health. Because of their sensitivity to subtle shifts in substrate, nutrient availability, and hydrology, they may be valuable for evaluating restoration succession. This study evaluated the ecological recovery trajectories of two wetlands; a 25-year-old Restored Wetland (ORW) and the 5-year-old New Created Wetland (NCW) compared to a creek, following kaolin mining and subsequent restoration efforts at a Kaolin Mine in Georgia. We examined algal species richness, diversity, microbial composition, and physicochemical parameters. The overall goal was to assess how both algal and microbial communities vary within and between the three systems and whether ecological conditions supporting stable and diverse algal assemblages and microbial communities have been reestablished. Algae and microbial samples, soil, and physicochemical parameters data (nitrates, total phosphorus, pH, temperature, turbidity, pressure, total organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, and calcium (Ca), manganese (Mg), and silicon (Si),) were collected from nine sampling points. In addition to algal assessments, microbial compositions were examined using next generation sequencing. A total of 119 algal taxa were identified across all sites. Preliminary results show that ORW had the highest species richness (64), and Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’) (4.13); NCW had the lowest richness (22), and H' (3.09), while the Creek was intermediate. Diatoms and Green algae were statistically significantly different across sites (ORW > NRW > Creek with p = 0.0004 and p = 0.0098, respectively). Distinguishing physical factors were temperature, DO, turbidity, Mg, Si, Ca. Unique ecological clustering among sites highlighted a successional gradient from the NCW toward the ORW, but still ecologically separate from the Creek. Overall study findings demonstrate differences in water quality and algal composition among all sites, and that algae have potential to be used as effective indicators of wetland recovery.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS