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Invasive reed effects on benthic community structure in Lake Erie coastal marshes

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Abstract

We examined how dominance (% canopy cover) and invasion history of common reed, Phragmites australis, affected benthic macroinvertebrate diversity and density in 8 marshes along Lake Erie’s southern shoreline. We also compared macroinvertebrate densities among patches (0.25 m2) of reed, cattail (Typha spp.), and native flora (e.g., Sagittaria, Sparganium) and epiphytic algal communities on submerged stems of reed and cattail. Narrow-leaf cattail (T. angustifolia) is also a common invasive plant to these wetlands, but does not greatly change plant community composition or ecosystem conditions like reed. Macroinvertebrate diversity (Shannon–Weaver H′) was positively related to reed cover and was highest (4.6) in two marshes with ~35- and 5-year invasion histories. Shading from high reed cover increased H′-diversity, in part, by reducing the abundance of floating duckweed, which harbored many Hyalella azteca amphipods. Percent Ephemeroptera, Odonata, and Trichoptera was low to moderate across marshes, regardless of reed cover and invasion history. Macroinvertebrate density was not affected by reed cover or average plant stem density, and did not differ among plant types. However, epiphyton densities and % diatoms were greater on reed than on cattail, suggesting reed provides a better feeding habitat for microalgal grazers than Typha. Abundance rankings of common species in these diatom-dominated communities were also typically dissimilar between these plant types. Although % grazers was unrelated to epiphyton densities and % diatoms, grazer identity (snails) differed between natural and diked marshes, which had different microalgal food supplies. Our findings suggest that Phragmites does not necessarily adversely affect macroinvertebrate community structure and diversity and that invasion history alone has little effect on the H′-diversity–reed dominance relationship.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Erie Metro Parks, John McFadden, Doug Brewer, Ron Huffman, Frank Lopez, and Charlotte McCurdy for access to Dupont, Sheldon, Darby, Magee and Metzger, OWC, and Mentor marshes, respectively, Steve Barry for his ArcView expertise in Fig. 1, Grace Kilbane for macroinvertebrate identifications, and Robert Whyte for sharing his historical knowledge of macrophytes in some of these wetlands. Constructive comments by Ferenc de Szalay, Ken Krieger, and an anonymous reviewer significantly improved the manuscript. Funding was provided by a grant to JRH from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, administered by the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves through the Ohio Coastal Management Program.

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  1. Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, 1760 University Drive, Mansfield, OH, 44906, USA

    Joseph R. Holomuzki

  2. Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife, 2514 Cleveland Road East, Huron, OH, 44839, USA

    David M. Klarer

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Correspondence to Joseph R. Holomuzki.

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Holomuzki, J.R., Klarer, D.M. Invasive reed effects on benthic community structure in Lake Erie coastal marshes. Wetlands Ecol Manage 18, 219–231 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-009-9161-7

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