Koontz, J., D.G. Huggins, C.C. Freeman, D.S. Baker - Central Plains ...
Koontz, J., D.G. Huggins, C.C. Freeman, D.S. Baker - Central Plains ...
Koontz, J., D.G. Huggins, C.C. Freeman, D.S. Baker - Central Plains ...
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ecoregions. Mean pH was also found to be significantly different (p = 0.030) between the CIP<br />
and WCB. Mean pH among the wetland sites in the CIP was approximately 0.5 pH lower than<br />
the Western Corn Belt <strong>Plains</strong> (mean pH = 8.06). Despite these findings, no ecoregional<br />
differences were observed in the Macroinvertebrate MMI and no interactions were observed<br />
when a multiple factor ANOVA was performed between study populations and ecoregion<br />
factors. While no significant ecoregional differences in the MMI scores were found the general<br />
scoring tends for ecoregions indicated that higher scores were associated with WCB, then CIP<br />
and lastly the Interior River Valleys and Hills (Figure 51).<br />
MMI Scores<br />
100<br />
90<br />
80<br />
70<br />
60<br />
50<br />
40<br />
30<br />
20<br />
10<br />
0<br />
Figure 51. Median Box plots of the MMI scores for the entire sample population (n = 53) by<br />
ecoregion: CIP = <strong>Central</strong> Irregular <strong>Plains</strong>, WCB = Western Corn Belt <strong>Plains</strong>, and IRV = Interior<br />
River Valleys and Hills. Box area represents inner quartile range, while “whiskers” represent the<br />
upper and lower observations.<br />
Differences in Wetland Types<br />
CIP WCB<br />
Ecoregion<br />
IRV<br />
Many significant differences were found between the wetland types for many of the FQA<br />
metrics, DA scores, and some water quality parameters. Total organic carbon concentrations<br />
(TOC), log Secchi depths (m), and log total nitrogen concentrations (TN) also showed similar<br />
significant separations between wetland types. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallace non-parametric<br />
tests identified significant differences between palustrine and lacustrine sites in many of the FQA<br />
metrics and depth, though riverine wetlands seemed to separate with indicators of degradation,<br />
such as increased percent adventives species, lower native richness, and overall FQI scores.<br />
Between class and type differences were observed, but not all were statistically significant<br />
(Figure 52a and b). Examination of water quality, FQA, and Macroinvertebrate MMI variables<br />
and their values suggest that the MIX most closely related to UB and these sites probably should<br />
be re-classed as UB sites. FQI means and mean native plant richness differences were not<br />
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