Using a decision tree approach to inform protection and restoration of Great Lakes coastal wetlands

Session: Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands: Innovative Research to Improve Restoration (1)

Donald Uzarski, Central Michigan University, IGLR, CMUBS, and Department of Biology, [email protected]
Matthew Cooper, Northland College, Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation, [email protected]

Abstract

As a result of the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conferences, the Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Consortium was formed in 2000. By 2008, the consortium had established a basin-wide monitoring plan. In 2010, USEPA-GLNPO funded the plan for five years.  Years six through 10 were then funded in 2015.  Mathematical models were established to use vegetation, invertebrate, fish, amphibians, birds, and physicochemical data to quantify ecosystem condition for all large coastal wetlands in the basin.  These data are being used as a powerful tool to inform decision-makers on coastal wetland conservation and restoration priorities throughout the entire Great Lakes basin.  However, as might be expected, the various metrics may indicate different ecosystem conditions for the same wetland. While this can be confusing, there are logical explanations. For example, wetland vegetation metrics tend to reflect conditions of the higher elevation portions of wetlands; invasive Phragmites often dominates this zone resulting in low vegetation metric values.  Dense Phragmites, however, can filter pollutants and toxicants running off the landscape. This filtration improves water quality in the lower elevation portions of wetlands and may increase condition metrics in those areas. We have developed a decision-tree to help resource managers interpret these seemingly contradictory data.