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Vegetative Ecological Characteristics of Restored Reed (Phragmites australis) Wetlands in the Yellow River Delta, China

Author

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  • Xuehong Wang

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Ecology, Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Junbao Yu

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Ecology, Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes)

  • Di Zhou

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Ecology, Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hongfang Dong

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Ecology, Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yunzhao Li

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Ecology, Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Qianxin Lin

    (Louisiana State University, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences)

  • Bo Guan

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Ecology, Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yongli Wang

    (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Ecology, Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes
    Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

In this study, we compared ecological characteristics of wetland vegetation in a series of restoration projects that were carried out in the wetlands of Yellow River Delta. The investigated characteristics include plant composition structure, species diversity and community similarity in three kinds of Phragmites australis wetlands, i.e. restored P. australis wetlands (R1, R2, R3 and R4: restored in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2009, respectively), natural P. australis wetland (N) and degraded P. australis wetland (D) to assess the process of wetlands restoration. The coverage of the R1 was 99%, which was similar to natural wetland. Among all studied wetlands, the highest and lowest stem density was observed in R1 and R2, respectively, Plant height and stem diameter show the same trend as N > R2 > R1 > R3 > D > R4. Species diversity of restored P. australis wetlands became closed to natural wetland. Both species richness and Shannon–Wiener index had similar tendency: increased first and then decreased with restored time. The highest species richness and species diversity were observed in R2, while the lowest values of those parameters were found in natural P. australis wetland. Similarity indexes between restored wetlands and natural wetland increased with the restoration time, but they were still less than 50%. The results indicate that the vegetation of P. australis wetlands has experienced a great improvement after several years’ restoration, and it is feasible to restored degraded P. australis wetlands by pouring fresh water into those wetlands in the Yellow River Delta. However, it is notable that costal degraded P. australis wetland in this region may take years to decades to reach the status of natural wetland.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuehong Wang & Junbao Yu & Di Zhou & Hongfang Dong & Yunzhao Li & Qianxin Lin & Bo Guan & Yongli Wang, 2012. "Vegetative Ecological Characteristics of Restored Reed (Phragmites australis) Wetlands in the Yellow River Delta, China," Environmental Management, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 325-333, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envman:v:49:y:2012:i:2:d:10.1007_s00267-011-9757-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00267-011-9757-6
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