Wetland restoration in urban settings: Studies of vegetation and seed banks in restored and reference tidal freshwater marshes

This study examined the seed bank and vegetation of a restored tidal freshwater marsh located in Washington, D.C. and compared it to an older restored marsh, a natural urban marsh, and a natural non-urban marsh. A study examining the effects of a beaver impoundment on the vegetation and edaphic factors in the natural non-urban reference site was also conducted. The number of seedlings, vegetation cover, taxa density, evenness, and diversity of vegetation were compared among sites in these studies.; The restored marshes were more similar to the natural urban wetland than to the natural non-urban wetland with regard to the seed bank and vegetation. Duration of flooding from the beaver impoundment was found to be an important factor affecting vegetation composition at the non-urban reference site. Findings included: urban restoration projects should likely have urban reference sites; and natural disturbances may have similar influences upon both natural and restored systems.