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<p>Human activities in Phoenix, Arizona, have left the Salt River dammed, diverted, restored, and ignored. Urban wetlands are vital for many species, offering insight into how ecological communities and management are co-produced within social-ecological systems. To examine these dynamics, we asked which organisms are found within landscapes shaped by different management choices? We analyzed long-term surveys (2012–2022) of birds, herpetofauna, and plants across three urban wetlands: a recreation area, an unmanaged accidental wetland, and a restored wetland. We assessed species richness, abundance, and diversity. In collaboration with land managers, we removed vegetation from the restored site and harvested biomass from three abundant marsh plants (<i>Arundo donax, Schoenoplectus californicus</i>, and <i>Typha latifolia</i>). Using Hollander beaters, we pulped the biomass to make paper and visualized plant community changes on it, displaying these artworks in community centers to engage local audiences. Our results show stable bird populations at the case study sites, but suggest herpetofauna abundance and species richness may have declined. Vegetation abundance increased, and urban plant communities became more cosmopolitan, even in sites where invasive species removals were regularly conducted. We found the highest number of both introduced and rare native plant species in the accidental wetland, along with an increase in culturally significant plants for local Indigenous groups. However, despite the increasing plant species richness in urban sites, they were less evenly diverse after ten years while the non-urban site was more evenly diverse. Our case studies show that urban wetlands support surprising species diversity, and accidental wetlands may complement restoration efforts. Our long-term monitoring suggests that introduced plants do not always threaten native or culturally important species, so the rationale for removal should be considered before implementing management plans. Practical biomass uses, like papermaking, can also foster community engagement with research and stewardship.</p>

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A portrait of changing community composition in three urban wetlands of the Salt River, Phoenix AZ USA

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月18日

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  • Luke Ramsey-Wiegmann,
  • Heather L. Bateman,
  • Daniel L. Childers,
  • Heather Green,
  • Elizabeth Makings

摘要

Human activities in Phoenix, Arizona, have left the Salt River dammed, diverted, restored, and ignored. Urban wetlands are vital for many species, offering insight into how ecological communities and management are co-produced within social-ecological systems. To examine these dynamics, we asked which organisms are found within landscapes shaped by different management choices? We analyzed long-term surveys (2012–2022) of birds, herpetofauna, and plants across three urban wetlands: a recreation area, an unmanaged accidental wetland, and a restored wetland. We assessed species richness, abundance, and diversity. In collaboration with land managers, we removed vegetation from the restored site and harvested biomass from three abundant marsh plants (Arundo donax, Schoenoplectus californicus, and Typha latifolia). Using Hollander beaters, we pulped the biomass to make paper and visualized plant community changes on it, displaying these artworks in community centers to engage local audiences. Our results show stable bird populations at the case study sites, but suggest herpetofauna abundance and species richness may have declined. Vegetation abundance increased, and urban plant communities became more cosmopolitan, even in sites where invasive species removals were regularly conducted. We found the highest number of both introduced and rare native plant species in the accidental wetland, along with an increase in culturally significant plants for local Indigenous groups. However, despite the increasing plant species richness in urban sites, they were less evenly diverse after ten years while the non-urban site was more evenly diverse. Our case studies show that urban wetlands support surprising species diversity, and accidental wetlands may complement restoration efforts. Our long-term monitoring suggests that introduced plants do not always threaten native or culturally important species, so the rationale for removal should be considered before implementing management plans. Practical biomass uses, like papermaking, can also foster community engagement with research and stewardship.