Kj. Havens et al., INVESTIGATION AND LONG-TERM MONITORING OF PHRAGMITES-AUSTRALIS WITHINVIRGINIAS CONSTRUCTED WETLAND SITES, Environmental management, 21(4), 1997, pp. 599-605
The use of constructed wetlands to replace natural wetlands is becomin
g pandemic. An investigation using global positioning system technolog
y to map the vegetated communities of 15 of the largest constructed we
tlands in Virginia reveals that 80% are colonized by the invasive spec
ies, Phragmites australis Trin., and/or aggressive species, Typha sop.
Tidally influenced wetlands that have subtidal perimeter ditches have
significantly less (P < 0.05) P. australis in the wetland interior th
an those without perimeter ditches. Fractured regression analyses show
that 6 years after construction, P. australis invasion can be extensi
ve. Linear regression analysis suggests that, if conditions remain fav
orable for P. australis colonization, constructed wetlands could be ov
errun in 40 years.