BIODIVERSITY IN CANADIAN GREAT LAKES WETLANDS
Coastal wetlands play crucial ecological, economic and social roles that stem from their rich biodiversity. They provide essential habitat for a large variety of species, mitigate climate change and offer coastal protection and water purification. However, the Great Lakes (GL) wetlands are being degraded at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic stressors, climate change and invasive species.
Exotic and invasive plant species are particularly problematic, and are suggested to be responsible for many ecosystem changes in the GL. Working with the Great Lakes Protection Initiative (GLPI), this study examines the current biodiversity and distribution of plant species across the Canadian GL wetlands' hydrosere. We used an impressive dataset collected by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) during the summer of 2018-2019. This dataset includes 26 sites and more than 8500 vegetation quadrats across five GL.
Exotic and invasive plant species are particularly problematic, and are suggested to be responsible for many ecosystem changes in the GL. Working with the Great Lakes Protection Initiative (GLPI), this study examines the current biodiversity and distribution of plant species across the Canadian GL wetlands' hydrosere. We used an impressive dataset collected by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) during the summer of 2018-2019. This dataset includes 26 sites and more than 8500 vegetation quadrats across five GL.
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