Gaujee, Soumayyah, Clean Water Institute/Department of Biology, Lycoming College, One College Place, Williamsport, PA, 17702, gausoum@lycoming.edu; Rieck, Leslie, O., Department of Biology, Lycoming College, One College Place, Williamsport, PA, 17702, rieck@lycoming.edu; Bohlin, Emily, Department of Biology Lycoming College One College Place Williamsport PA, 17702, bohlin@lycoming.edu; Kaunert, Matt, Clean Water Institute, Lycoming College, One College Place, Williamsport, PA, 17702, kaunert@lycoming.edu.
The Robert Porter Allen Natural Area is a 260-acre nature preserve in the Sylvan Dell area of Central Pennsylvania. A former farm, this area has been seeded with native plants over the past several years in hopes of restoring terrestrial habitats. Wetlands on the property are extensive and largely intact, but their condition remains uninvestigated. We measured chemical water quality parameters; collected, identified, and quantified zooplankton; and mapped wetland plant communities at several wetland sites throughout the property to establish a baseline from which to continue monitoring. Chemical water quality differed little between sites, though conductivity and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) showed some notable fluctuations. The most prevalent zooplankton species was Brachionidae brachionus and the most dominant wetland vegetation was Phalaris arundinacea. This valuable baseline data will serve long-term monitoring efforts as managers continue to improve the land at Robert Porter Allen Natural Area.
Wetland restoration, Zooplankton, Nutrient enrichment, Wetland vegetation