1. By: Michelle Parascando, Aneta Gruchala, Marina Fernandes, Jason Patel, & Mike Wenk

2. Purpose: To in the tools to assess wetland condition by studying vegetation and invertebrates in wetlands across a range of human disturbance. To develop two separate indexes of biological integrity for Minnesota depressional wetlands. Assemblages: Macroinvertebrates and Vascular plants

3. *Minnesota has been developing its wetland biological assessment programs since 1992.* 1992- Small depressional reference wetland study >The initial research studied the quantity and quality of macroinvertebrates. (Macroinvertebrates of high quality wetlands.) 1995- Expanded small depressional wetland study >Data was collected on a larger set of depressional wetlands for both macroinvertebrates and vegetation.

4. 1999-Large depressional wetland study >Large depressional wetlands had been studied. Human disturbance has also been studied and how it affected the wetlands. 2001-Statistical assessment of wetland monitoring methods >Nine wetlands had been studied to test the methods for invertebrate and vegetation IBIs with statistical procedures. 2002-Citizen training – >A final guide for biological monitoring of wetlands by citizens will be produced by MPCA in 2002.

5. Wetlands had been studied for both macroinvertebrates and for vegetation. Macroinvertebrates: Animals without backbones. Vegetation: Plant-life Human Disturbances had played a major role on the wetlands. (Stormwater and agricultural influences)

6. During sampling, macroinvertebrates had been studied by using the Dipnet and the activity trap method. The Dipnetting method caught the greatest richness of inverterbrates while the activity trap captured the active swimmers and night- active predators. Wetlands show clear patterns and show predictable reactions to human disturbances.

7. Macro - InvertebratesVegetation Chemical/Biological data analyzed: Intolerant taxa, chironomid taxa, and total taxa showed the strongest responses to the disturbance gradient and water chemistry factors. Of the ten vegetation metrics: All showed significant responses to water (chloride and phosphorus) and sediment chemistry (zinc, copper, and nickel). Chemical/Biological data analyzed: Of the ten invertebrate metrics, next came Odonata and ETSD metrics. Sensitive species were found to be the strongest and most reliable vegetation metrics. HDS (scoring system of human disturbance) Scores, turbidity, and phosphorus and chloride in water were most significantly related to the invertebrate IBI. Copper in sediments were very significant.