Abstract
Monotypic stands of Juncus roemerianus dominate the marshes of Mississippi and other areas in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Although Juncus-dominated marshes are common in this region, few studies examined the effects of restoration efforts on faunal inhabitants of these marsh ecosystems. Deer Island is a remnant island off the coast of Biloxi, Mississippi and has been subject to erosion and morphological changes since the 1850s resulting in a loss of one third its original footprint. Restoration projects began on the island in 2003 to restore the Juncus-dominated landscape, hydrology, soil characteristics, and community structure in hopes of enhancing ecological functions such carbon sequestration and fisheries support. To assess the outcome of these restoration efforts, this study examined environmental characteristics, faunal community structure, and trophic support in two restored marshes (5+ yrs old and 15+ yrs old) and a natural reference marsh (100+ yrs old). Transect sampling targeted fiddler crabs, periwinkles, olive snails, and ribbed mussels on the marsh surface, while minnow trap sampling in submerged areas targeted nekton. Invertebrate abundances along the transects were significantly higher in the natural marsh. Nekton abundance, species richness, and Simpson’s index of diversity varied by site and season. We used mixed effects models to observe these differences as a function of percent Juncus cover and total vegetation cover. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) will provide insight as to whether Juncus is a primary basal carbon source for consumers and how energy is transferred through food webs in the restored marshes compared to the natural marsh. Our assessment of consumer community structure, combined with previous studies evaluating environmental and vegetative characteristics provide a thorough assessment of restoration efforts on Deer Island, MS and gives insight into future restoration projects on Juncus-dominated marshes in this area.
