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Urbanization impacts?
Current
home of
McMaster
University
90% loss of
aquatic
vegetation
Turtle
habitat
Desjardins
Canal was
dredged and
had to be
continously
cleared of
aquatic plants
and sediment
3. Construction of
two dams to
control flooding
on the Upper
Spencer Creek
resulted in
sediment
retention of at
least 60%,
further reducing
sediment
nourishment in
the marsh.
4. Urbanization of
watershed
increased total
run-off and flood
peaks, but clay
substrate stayed
in suspension and
was quickly
discharged into
Hamilton
Harbour through
the Desjardins
canal.
5. Disturbance by
exotic species, the
common carp, can
resuspend
sediment and add
to lowered
sedimentation rate.
Chow-Fraser, P., Lougheed, V.L., Crosbie, B., LeThiec, V., Simser, L., and
Lord, J. 1998. Long-term response of the biotic community to
fluctuating water levels and changes in water quality in Cootes
Paradise Marsh, a degraded coastal wetland of L. Ontario. Wetland
Ecol. Manage. 6: 19-42.
In 1946:
16 taxa, including those that
require good light penetration
(pondweed, waterweed, etc.)
In 1995:
1 species primarily (sago
pondweed) accounting for only
1% of the aquatic vegetative
cover.
In 1946:
22 taxa accounting for 46% vegetative cover,
dominated by 3 different species; higher plant
diversity
In 1995:
8 species, accounting for 10% , primarily cattails
and some non-native species such as purple
loosestrife and the common reed from Eurasia
According to Whillans
(1982), 76% of areal cover
of emergent vegetation
present in 1800s had
disappeared to
< 10% by mid 1970s. We
have evidence that this
decline began shortly after
1934 when there were still
about 85% cover.
• Piscivores
Eat other fish
and variety of
invertebrates
Largemouth bass Northern pike
• Benthivores
Eat benthic
invertebrates Common carp Bullhead
35 Species 31 species
Piscivores and • Planktivores and
benthivores and a few benthivores; few
planktivore taxa piscivore taxa
1 85% 2
Low Water Level
Emergents
Low 15 7
Nutrients Diverse
Sewage Benthos with
4
14 numerous
Creeks Insect Larvae
13
Lower Algal
Biomass Low
Epiphyton
Conceptual Large
12
biomass
8
food-web Herbivorous
Zooplankton 6
model of 11
Diverse
Submergent
Low
healthy Planktivore
Biomass
Community
9
wetland 10
High
Piscivore
Biomass
Degraded State
2
1
High Water Level Loss of
29
Emergents Carp
3 5 Spawning
4
Wind Resuspension
6 14
High Water
Sediment Loading 7 Turbidity
from Watershed
30 8
27
Carp Benthos tolerant
of low DO and
Feeding 9 soft substrate
Internal Loading 10
13 28
Sewage 11 High 12 High Algal
Creeks Nutrients Biomass
Combined Sewer 15
16
Overflows
High
22 Epiphyton
Small Biomass
Conceptu
21
Herbivorous 17
Zooplankton 26
al food- High
20
Loss of
Submergents
Planktivore
web
18
Biomass
model of Low
19
Piscivore 25
degraded Biomass 23
Diurnal
Dissolved
Oxygen Flux
wetland 24
Degraded State
2
1
High Water Level Loss of
29
Emergents Carp
3 5 Spawning
4
Wind Resuspension
6 14
High Water
Sediment Loading 7 Turbidity
from Watershed
30 8
27
Carp Benthos tolerant
of low DO and
Feeding 9 soft substrate
Internal Loading 10
13 28
Sewage 11 High 12 High Algal
Creeks Nutrients Biomass
Combined Sewer 15
16
Overflows
High
22 Epiphyton
Small Biomass
Conceptu
21
Herbivorous 17
Zooplankton 26
al food- High
20
Loss of
Submergents
Planktivore
web
18
Biomass
model of Low
19
Piscivore 25
degraded Biomass 23
Diurnal
Dissolved
Oxygen Flux
wetland 24
Baskets hand
sorted and
identified and
carp are sent
back to the
harbour and all
others are
allowed into the
marsh
40
30
After exclusion
20
10
0
1996 1997 1998
Moderately
degraded
degraded
degraded
Highly
Very
Good
Excellent
Very good
Water level
Effluent from sewage treatment plant
High water turbidity
Carp bioturbation
Wind and wave action
Dredging of the Desjardins Canal
Infilling for road building
Building of dams upstream