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历史水文过程 ** 减少，从而最大限度地减少了暴雨洪水的强度，并增加了威胁 ** 饮用水供应的水污染物，生态系统稳定性和减少整个 ** 南部安大略的娱乐和经济活动。雨水池是雨水管理培训的一个组成部分，也是安大略最常见的雨水管理方法之一。拟议项目将对雨水池植被及其与水质的关系进行全面调查，以更好地为雨水池设计提供信息，并确保这些系统的预期功能。研究中心将从位于南安大略的 ** 雨水池塘中选择。选址将根据是否有记录 ** 有关其原始设计、植被种植策略、持续监测水质和 ** 可达性。遇到的所有植物物种的样本将被识别并提交给劳里埃 ** 植物标本馆作为永久凭证。植被特征，包括物种丰富度，多样性，均匀度，** 覆盖率，密度和频率将被量化，除了由上层和 ** 林下植被的遮光程度。水质样本将从雨水池入口和 ** 出口的径流中采集。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E。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）调查植被与雨水塘功能（改善水质、生境等）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模式（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）评估雨水塘对周围景观的整体影响。

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.