Change in sediment features and the macroinvertebrate community within an estuarine ecosystem two years post‐restoration

Abstract

Abstract Our objective was to assess the response of an estuarine ecosystem to restoration efforts, two years post‐restoration. Sediment attributes of particle size distribution (PSD), %LOI, water content and amounts of fine wood debris (FWD), and the macroinvertebrate community were compared among three sites, two reference and the recently restored site. The restored region had been previously used as a log sorting facility. As indicated by PSD, the restored site showed signs of recovery. However, the macroinvertebrate community had still not responded to restoration efforts. Sediments of reference sites were comprised of fine sand, and the macroinvertebrate community was dominated by Macoma spp. By contrast, at the restored site, sediments were mainly comprised of silt followed by fine sand, Macoma spp. was absent, and the main macroinvertebrate was Glycera americana, a polychaeta characteristic of disturbed regions. The restored site still contained significance amounts of FWD as compared to the two reference sites attributed to its previous use. Although still early in its recovery stage, active restoration did have a positive effect and will have likely kick started the region toward recovery and further follow‐up in five years is recommended.

Keywords

• estuary
• macroinvertebrates
• restoration ecosystem response
• sediment particle size