Assessing Plant Community Composition in Established Stormwater Ponds and Determining Relationships Among Vegetation and Water Quality

人口增长和城市化的增加导致了历史水文过程的减少，而历史水文过程可以最大限度地减少暴雨的强度，而水生污染物的增加则威胁着安大略省南部的饮用水供应、生态系统的稳定，并减少了娱乐和经济活动。雨水池是雨水管理系统的一个组成部分，也是安大略省最常用的雨水管理方法之一。建议项目将对雨水塘的植被及其与水质的关系进行全面调查，以便更好地为雨水塘的设计提供信息，并确保这些系统的预期功能。地点将从安大略省南部的**个雨水池中选择。选址将根据与原始设计、植被种植策略、持续监测水质和可达性有关的记录**的可用性**。所有遇到的植物物种样本将被鉴定并作为永久凭证提交给劳里埃**植物标本室。植被特征包括物种丰富度、多样性、均匀度、覆盖度、密度和频率，以及植被的遮阳程度。水质样本将取自雨水塘入口及出口的径流。这些水样将根据环境和气候变化部（MOECC）规定的不同水质参数进行测试，包括BOD、COD、TSS、pH和大肠杆菌。这些测试将**允许确定水质和植被生长之间的任何相关性。数据分析**将：1)研究植被与雨水塘功能（水质改善、生境改善等）之间的关系；2)比较不同地点和不同雨水塘建设策略之间的植被格局（群落结构、物种多样性、均匀度、丰富度、入侵物种入侵和生境适宜性）；3)评估雨水塘对周边景观的总体影响。

Increased human population growth and urbanization have led to a reduction in historic hydrological processes**that minimize the intensity of stormwater surges, and an increase in waterborne contaminants that threaten**drinking water supplies, ecosystem stability and diminish recreational and economic activities throughout**southern Ontario. Stormwater ponds are one component of a stormwater management train and are among the**most common approaches to stormwater management in Ontario. The proposed project will undertake a**comprehensive survey of stormwater pond vegetation and its relation to water quality to better inform**stormwater pond design and ensure the intended functionality of these systems. Sites will be selected from**stormwater ponds located within Southern Ontario. Sites will be selected based on the availability of records**related to their original design, vegetation planting strategies, ongoing monitoring of water quality and**accessibility. Samples of all plant species encountered will be identified and submitted to the Laurier**Herbarium as permanent vouchers. Vegetation characteristics including species richness, diversity, evenness,**percent cover, density, and frequency will be quantified in addition to degree of shading by overstory and**understory vegetation . Water quality samples will be taken from the runoff at the stormwater ponds inlet and**outlet. These water samples will be tested for different water quality parameters as defined by the Ministry of**the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), including BOD, COD, TSS, pH and E. Coli. These tests will**allow for a determination of any correlation between the water quality and vegetation growth. Data analyses**will: 1) investigate relationships among vegetation and stormwater pond function (improvement of water**quality, habitat, etc), 2) compare vegetation patterns (community structure, species diversity, evenness,**richness, incursion of invasive species and habitat suitability) among sites and among stormwater pond creation**strategies, and 3) assess the overall impact of stormwater ponds on the surrounding landscape.