Using Soil Properties to Look at Big Picture Issues of Vegetation Structure, Succession, Dynamics, and Habitat Values.

We measured maturation of three ecological functions (rate and amount of carbon accumulation and formation of wildlife habitat) in a large field experimental wetland (EW), several created forested wetland mitigation sites (CFW) and reference wetlands (NRW). Soil %C %P, bulk density, and C:N, C:P and N:P ratios in the top 10 cm of CFWs developed to statistically similar levels to NRWs within 20 years, indicating that, forested CFWs in Virginia begin to replace some aspects of carbon functions within 20 years. However, total C storage and % N remained significantly lower in CFWs than NRWs after 20 years.  CFWs were also dissimilar to NRWs in all measured parameters except C:N after 11 years and both CFW classes were dissimilar to NRWs at depth in all but nutrient ratios. In EW our regression results showed that basal area was a good proxy for carbon sequestering (p<0.05) in the experimental wetland. Primary species had significantly greater BA (107.1 cm²) than secondary species (13.3 cm²). Habitat, using canopy and height as a proxy, was also greatest in primary species (3.2m vs. 1.4m for secondary). Soils in the saturated cell of the experimental wetland met wet criteria in years 2, 4, and 5, but not in year 6 (2007). The largest amount of soil carbon was stored in the natural cell. We conclude that planting primary species enhances the potential to restore ecological functions, particularly carbon storage and development of habitat. Soils in the saturated cell of our study did not meet regulatory criteria at 5yrs, but did at 2 through 4. Choice of where soil data was collected or number of data points may have been a factor.