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Shrub Encroachment Following Wetland Creation in Mixedgrass Prairie Alters Grassland Vegetation and Soil

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Abstract

Wetland decline under post-European settlement and land use change across western Canada has led to mitigation strategies, including wetland creation. Created wetlands can trigger environmental change, including woody species encroachment, in turn altering vegetation and soil. We quantify changes in shrub abundance from prior to wetland creation (1949) until 60 years later (2012) within a Mixedgrass ecosystem of the Verger watershed in Alberta, Canada. In addition, we compare remaining grassland with areas colonized by shrubland on similar ecosites for differences in (1) plant composition, including native and introduced flora, (2) herbage yield and forage accessibility for livestock, and (3) soil properties (surface organic depth, bulk density, mineral nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) concentration). Repeat photos show Shepherdia argentea shrublands increased from 0 to 88 ha (to 1.15% of study area) following wetland creation, with the greatest increase in the last 20 years. Relative to grasslands, shrublands had lower total plant diversity but greater presence of introduced plant species. Shrub patches were 94% lower in herbaceous production, with 77% of shrublands non-utilized by cattle, collectively leading to reduced grazing capacity. Relative to grasslands, shrublands had a thicker soil surface mulch layer, and where cattle were present, had increased mineral soil N and C. Overall, shrub encroachment following wetland creation has markedly altered vegetation and soils in this once grassland landscape, with negative impacts on native plant diversity, herbage production and forage accessibility, and has implications for the management of shrub encroachment.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this work was provided by the Rangeland Research Institute at the University of Alberta. The authors thank Adrienne Tastad, Jamie Kalla, and Lysandra Pyle for assistance with field sampling, and Daniel Hewins and Kelvin Lien for assistance with soil lab work. GIS support was provided by Charlene Nielsen, Peter Blenis provided advice with statistical analysis, and Peder K. Bøcher co-supervised RD while at Aarhus University. Special thanks to Edwin and Ruth Mattheis for making this work possible through their donation of the Mattheis Ranch to the University of Alberta, and to Don and Sandra Armitage for their support throughout the project.

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  1. Zum Heiligenplatz 1, 66663, Merzig, Germany

    Regina Dahl

  2. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, Postboks 50, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark

    Tommy Dalgaard

  3. Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 410E Agriculture/Forestry Center, T6G 2P5, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Edward W. Bork

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Correspondence to Edward W. Bork.

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Dahl, R., Dalgaard, T. & Bork, E.W. Shrub Encroachment Following Wetland Creation in Mixedgrass Prairie Alters Grassland Vegetation and Soil. Environmental Management 66, 1120–1132 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01386-2

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