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加剧导致历史上的水文过程减少，从而将暴雨的强度降到最低，而水中污染物的增加威胁到整个安大略省南部的供水、生态系统的稳定和娱乐和经济活动的减少。雨水池是雨水管理列车的一个组成部分，也是安大略省最常见的雨水管理方法之一。拟议的项目将继续对雨水池植被及其与水质的关系进行全面调查，以更好地了解雨水池的设计，并确保这些系统的预期功能。选址是从位于安大略省南部的雨水池中挑选出来的，依据的是与其原始设计、植被种植策略、持续的水质监测和可达性相关的记录。遇到的所有植物物种的样本将被识别并作为永久凭证提交给劳里尔植物标本馆。植物特征，包括物种丰富度、多样性、均匀度、盖度、密度和频率，将被量化，以及盖层和林下植被的遮荫程度。全年将从雨水池进出口的径流中抽取水质样本。水样将接受环境和气候变化部(MOECC)定义的不同水质参数的测试，可能包括BOD、COD、TSS、pH和E.Coli。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)调查植被和雨水池功能之间的关系(改善水质、栖息地等)，2)比较不同地点和不同雨水池创建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)，以及3)评估雨水池对周围景观的整体影响。

Increased human population growth and urbanization have led to a reduction in historic hydrological processesthat minimize the intensity of stormwater surges, and an increase in waterborne contaminants that threatendrinking water supplies, ecosystem stability and diminish recreational and economic activities throughoutsouthern Ontario. Stormwater ponds are one component of a stormwater management train and are among themost common approaches to stormwater management in Ontario. The proposed project will continue acomprehensive survey of stormwater pond vegetation and its relation to water quality to better informstormwater pond design and ensure the intended functionality of these systems. Sites have been selected fromstormwater ponds located within Southern Ontario based on the availability of records related to their originaldesign, vegetation planting strategies, ongoing monitoring of water quality and accessibility. Samples of allplant 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 frequencywill be quantified in addition to degree of shading by overstory and understory vegetation. Water qualitysamples will be taken from the runoff at the stormwater ponds inlet and outlet throughout the year. Watersamples will be tested for different water quality parameters as defined by the Ministry of the Environment andClimate Change (MOECC), and may include BOD, COD, TSS, pH and E. Coli. These tests will allow for adetermination 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 creationstrategies, and 3) assess the overall impact of stormwater ponds on the surrounding landscape.