Invertebrate Communities of Twenty Ditched Carolina Bay Wetlands Scheduled for Restoration

Abstract

In February 1998, we began collecting invertebrates in 20 ditched Carolina bays and bay-like wetlands near Aiken, South Carolina. In the winter of 2001, these 20 wetlands will have their ditches plugged in an attempt to restore them to a more natural state. We have collected 24 different insect families and 14 different crustacean families in these impacted wetlands prior to the restoration. The three years of invertebrate community data that have been collected will be used as a reference to evaluate faunal changes following the restoration.