Evaluation of an Index of Plant Community Integrity for Assessing Wetland Plant Communities in the Prairie Pothole Region

摘要

An evaluation of the Index of Plant Community Integrity (IPCI) was conducted for assessing wetland plant communities in the Prairie Pothole Region. The IPCI evaluates the condition of temporary, seasonal, and semi-permanent wetland plant communities based on disturbance level and multiple community attributes. During 2003 and 2004, vegetative composition was measured for temporary, seasonal, and semipermanent wetlands located in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana concentrated in the Northern Glaciated Plains and Northwestern Glaciated Plains Ecoregions. Wetlands were selected based on classification and type of disturbance ranging from little disturbance (native rangeland) to heavily disturbed (cropland). Wetland data was analyzed using vegetation metrics and further analyzed using nonmetric multidimensional scaling and cluster analyses. All metrics tested were significant in indicating disturbance level in wetlands. Three classes were determined (Good, Fair, and Poor) for temporary and semi-permanent wetlands. Five classes were determined (Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, and Very Poor) for seasonal wetlands. Based on these classes, score ranges were assigned to the metrics that better defined the ranges designated in the original IPCI. Using the modified IPCI, wetlands in the Northern and Northwestern Glaciated Plains of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana can be placed into disturbance classes for ecological purposes and mitigation needs.