CERP Picayune Strand Restoration Project Post-Restoration Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring 2023-2024

To document the effects of hydrological restoration on the ecosystem in PSRP, macroinvertebrate communities are monitored as an indicator for ecological responses to hydrology, which can be observed at a shorter time scale than vegetation communities. Consistent wetland hydration is critical to many species for reproduction, development, and survival from larvae to maturity. Aquatic macroinvertebrates within representative examples of the major wetland plant community types, including wet prairies and cypress forests, are monitored to determine changes in their taxonomic composition and dominance. A total of 21 wetland sampling locations were selected for sampling three times during the hydrologic year of 2023-2024 These included five reference wetlands in Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR), three reference wetlands in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP), eight restored sites, two partially restored sites, and three unrestored control sites in the PSRP. Comparisons are made between aquatic macroinvertebrate community composition and characteristics (e.g., species richness) in all pre- and post-restoration (full and partial) sampling events and synthesized with relevant hydrologic data to determine effects of PSRP restoration (e.g., hydrologic regime) on these communities. Reference sites not affected by restoration are used to evaluate changes associated with non-project related region-wide effects on the aquatic communities. The report analyzes the monitored aquatic macroinvertebrate comminity characteristics related to PSRP hydrologic restoration progress transects under purchase order 4500142543 with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).