Lakehead University Knowledge Commons,http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca Electronic Theses and Dissertations Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009 2016 Macrophyte Community Dynamics in Lake Simcoe’s Fringe Wetlands: Potential use as Biological Indicators of Water Quality Jaanusson, Lindsey Aileen http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/803 Downloaded from Lakehead University, KnowledgeCommons Macrophyte community dynamics in Lake Simcoe’s fringe wetlands: Potential use as biological indicators of water quality A thesis presented to The Faculty of Graduate Studies of Lakehead University by LINDSEY JAANUSSON In partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology April 22, 2016 © Lindsey Jaanusson, 2016 Abstract Indices have been developed using macrophytes and water quality parameters to detect the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes, but such an index does not currently exist for Lake Simcoe. As wetland macrophytes are influenced by water quality, any impairment in wetland quality should be reflected by taxonomic composition, biomass and dynamics of the macrophyte community. This study investigates the potential use of macrophytes as a tool for monitoring water quality by examining the dynamics (species richness, density, diversity, and above-ground biomass) in emergent macrophyte communities in fringe wetlands around Lake Simcoe exposed to contrasting degrees of disturbance. Macrophytes and limnologic data were collected from six wetlands over four seasons from 2013 – 2014. The macrophytes were identified to species and limnologic data was quantified to reflect the water quality, which was measured as a proxy for site disturbance. Wetlands in this study correspond to a wide range of environmental conditions, ranging from very clear and nutrient poor oligotrophic conditions (e.g., TP =11.25 µg/L, TN = 345.25 µg/L, CHL a =1.37 mg·m-3) to turbid and eutrophic wetlands (e.g., TP = 47.25 µg/L, TN = 2285 µg/L, CHL a = 3.26 mg·m-3. Overall, the limnologic parameters indicated that water quality reflected the degree of anthropogenic degradation influencing the wetland. Taxonomic composition and population dynamics reflected the water quality. The least disturbed site was dominated by native Scirpus acutus and Scirpus pungens, which are mostly intolerant of environmental degradation, as well as the cosmopolitan Sparganium eurycarpum, found in all sites and tolerant of many different conditions. The moderately disturbed sites were dominated by both intolerant and tolerant species, including Scirpus acutus, Leersia oryzoides, Eleocharis smallii, Typha x glauca, Typha angustifolia, and Sparganium eurycarpum. The highly disturbed sites were also dominated by Sparganium eurycarpum, and species that are considered to be invasive, aggressive, and/or very tolerant of degradation, including Typha x glauca, Typha angustifolia, Phragmites australis, and Calamagrostis canadensis. These species are indicator species of wetland integrity and their relationship with the limnologic parameters as determined by ordination demonstrated responses that were consistent with the literature. Thus this study validates that macrophytes could be used as an indicator of water quality changes in this study area. i Lay Summary The mission statement of Lakehead University’s Department of Biology is “Faculty and students in the Department of Biology are bound together by a common interest in explaining the diversity of life, the fit between form and function, and the distribution and abundance of organisms.” The current study focuses on the dynamics of wetland macrophytes. This study contributes to one of the central research themes outlined in the mission statement, which is the relationship between life forms and their environmental functions. The study advances our understanding of various biotic and abiotic factors influencing macrophyte growth in fringing wetland environments. Understanding the dynamics of wetland macrophyte communities and their environmental niches is a valuable tool in assessing water quality as macrophytes possess the ability to integrate the temporal, spatial, chemical, biological, and physical dynamics acting concurrently on the wetland system. Three major research questions were investigated. 1. What are the temporal and spatial effects of macrophyte dynamics? 2. How do macrophyte composition and dynamics relate to water quality? 3. Can the macrophyte composition function as a bio-indicator of water quality? Results showed that the species composition varied considerably between sites and sampling periods and limnologic parameters of water quality influenced the presence or absence of certain species. This study provides a baseline dataset for macrophyte and water quality measurements in Lake Simcoe’s fringe wetlands. Furthermore, it may be useful to the development of a macrophyte-based water quality index for Lake Simcoe which will assist scientists and policy makers in their efforts towards more efficient water resources management. ii Acknowledgements The completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, and guidance of the amazing people in both my academic and personal life. I am enormously thankful for the guidance, patience, and wealth of knowledge of my supervisor Dr. Nandakumar Kanavillil. His confidence in my abilities and commitment to my research was integral in helping me purse this academic endeavor. I would like to acknowledge my committee members, Dr. Sreekumari Kurissery, and Dr. Peter Lee, and my external examiner, Dr. Lesley Lovett-Doust for their constructive feedback and invaluable insight to this thesis. I would like to extend a very special thank-you to Bob Bowles, for his dedication and assistance with the macrophyte identification process of this study. I don’t know how I could have managed without his passion and incredible knowledge of plants. I would like to thank Dr. Victoria Te Brugge for her dependability and unwavering support in the lab. Her presence was invaluable in my academic journey and her commitment to my success is something I will always remember. I would also like to recognize Dr. Gerardo Reyes for taking the time to share his invaluable statistical knowledge and guidance. I am grateful to the research assistants who assisted me during sampling. Also, I would like to thank Debbie Balika for always “being there” and providing heartfelt advice and guidance over the years. I would also like recognize my fellow graduate students whom which I could always rely on and am grateful for the friendships we forged. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to sincerely thank my friends and family for their unwavering belief in me and unremitting encouragement and support. Words cannot say what that means to me. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Lay Summary .................................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Wetlands, Definitions, Classification, Types and Site Types ............................................... 2 1.3 Lake Simcoe Watershed, Anthropogenic Activities, and Water Quality Impacts .............. 15 1.4 Wetland Macrophyte Responses to Water Quality and Their Utility as Biological Indicators ................................................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 2 General Materials and Methods ................................................................................... 27 2.1 Study location ...................................................................................................................... 27 2.2 Sampling site description .................................................................................................... 29 Site 1: Bluff’s Creek (BC), Orillia ......................................................................................... 29 Site 2: Victoria Point (VP), Orillia ........................................................................................ 31 Site 3: Lagoon City (LC), Brechin ........................................................................................ 31 Site 4: Duclos Point (DP), Pefferlaw ..................................................................................... 32 Site 5: Cook’s Bay (CB), Keswick ........................................................................................ 34 Site 6: Holland Marsh (HM), Bradford ................................................................................. 36 2.2.1 Macrophyte Survey......................................................................................................