Developing a Vegetation-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for Wetlands of Kentucky
Major
Biology
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree
Graduate
Mentor
David R. Brown
Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
Recommended Citation
Smith, Noelle; Morris, Tanner; Brown, David; Guidugli, Michelle; and Richter, Stephen C., "Developing a Vegetation-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for Wetlands of Kentucky" (2015). University Presentation Showcase Event. 3.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2015/graduate/3
Abstract
Kentucky has recently developed a rapid wetland assessment method (KY-WRAM) as a regulatory and research tool; however, the state has no method to intensively assess the vegetation community of wetlands. Intensive biotic assessments are critical for validating rapid assessment methods, and can be useful for assessment of mitigation success and at natural sites in cases where categorization based on the rapid method is ambiguous. We report on efforts to develop a Vegetation Index of Biotic Integrity for Kentucky (KY-VIBI). We sampled vegetation at more than 90 wetlands across 5 basins from 2011-2014, primarily in riverine and flats wetlands with emergent or forested vegetation. We narrowed a list of 120 possible candidate metrics based on correlations with an independent landscape integrity index. The list of candidate metrics was further reduced to minimize redundancy between metrics based on the criteria of biological relevance, the simplicity of metrics, and the strength of their correlation with the landscape integrity index. Many of the metrics in the final list are related to invasiveness, tolerance, and floristic quality scores (e.g., mean coefficient of conservatism, floristic quality assessment index). These types of metrics are biologically relevant and suggest that a common set of metrics may be useful for evaluating wetland condition across wetland types. Because several metrics were specific to emergent wetlands, however, separate scoring systems for emergent and forested wetlands may be necessary.
Presentation format
Poster
Poster Number
06
Developing a Vegetation-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for Wetlands of Kentucky
Kentucky has recently developed a rapid wetland assessment method (KY-WRAM) as a regulatory and research tool; however, the state has no method to intensively assess the vegetation community of wetlands. Intensive biotic assessments are critical for validating rapid assessment methods, and can be useful for assessment of mitigation success and at natural sites in cases where categorization based on the rapid method is ambiguous. We report on efforts to develop a Vegetation Index of Biotic Integrity for Kentucky (KY-VIBI). We sampled vegetation at more than 90 wetlands across 5 basins from 2011-2014, primarily in riverine and flats wetlands with emergent or forested vegetation. We narrowed a list of 120 possible candidate metrics based on correlations with an independent landscape integrity index. The list of candidate metrics was further reduced to minimize redundancy between metrics based on the criteria of biological relevance, the simplicity of metrics, and the strength of their correlation with the landscape integrity index. Many of the metrics in the final list are related to invasiveness, tolerance, and floristic quality scores (e.g., mean coefficient of conservatism, floristic quality assessment index). These types of metrics are biologically relevant and suggest that a common set of metrics may be useful for evaluating wetland condition across wetland types. Because several metrics were specific to emergent wetlands, however, separate scoring systems for emergent and forested wetlands may be necessary.
