Seed Bank Dynamics of Arid Wetland Systems in New Mexico and Texas

The overall goal of this research is to evaluate how moist-soil managed wetlands provide suitable wetland wildlife habitat via investigating seed bank dynamics, seed yield, and aquatic invertebrate production within moist-soil managed wetlands under a variety of management strategies in the MRGV and Sandia Springs wetlands. This research will provide both public and private landowners important strategies for improving conservation and management plans for managed wetlands regionally, but will also have important and valuable implications throughout, where moist-soil management practices are used to manage wetlands in arid systems. Primary Objectives 1. Estimate seed bank potential among and between moist-soil wetlands within the MRGV and Sandia Springs through experimental simulated inundation and drawdown conditions 2. Update and create seed yield models for desirable moist-soil plant species found in moist-soil wetland seed bank profiles