Effects of Land Use in Wetlands: A Case Study of the Lillian Anderson Arboretum

Abstract

As urbanization increases, so does the effect it has on the environment around us. The effects that the building of even a small subdivision may have on a local wetland can be great. With the building of a new subdivision adjacent to the wetland at the Lillian Anderson Arboretum, concerns about effects it may have on the wetland have been raised. In order to measure any effects that this subdivisionmay have in the future, the wetland was tested for a variety of common contaminants and wetland health indicators including calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, persistent organics, nitrates, pH, and alkalinity. In order to test for these compounds GC/MS, FAAS, ISEs, and titrations were all utilized in the analysis of water, sediment and plant samples. Using these techniques, a baseline profile of the wetland was created.