Site data collection

Data used within the testing of the low level statements of potential fimctioning were collected by various students, researchers and organisations across Europe. The principal investigators and organisations are listed in Table 3-2.

The functional site data used to compare with the results from the functional classification were collected using two different approaches; 1) empirical research and 2) functional assessment. Within the FAEWE, FAEWE II and PROTOWET projects detailed biogeochemical, hydrological, hydrogeological and ecological process studies were undertaken within a number of different wetland sites. Data collected within these sites were used to determine whether different wetland fimctions were being performed or not (actual functioning). Data quality and assurance were maintained among the various researchers through the development of monitoring and

analysis protocols (Maltby et al, 1996). All field sites where empirical studies took place were

instrumented in the same fashion utilising identical equipment. It was also ensured that

monitoring schedules were consistent among sites. The fimctions assessed fell into three groups; hydrological, biogeochemical and ecological. Table 3-3.

The information resulting from the studies undertaken in these research projects provides the best set of data against which the functional classification can be validated. These studies represent the relatively few research projects that have approached wetland research from the more applied functional standpoint. Although information for a site can be used to determine one function or maybe a group of fimctions it is rare that comprehensive research has been undertaken for all of the functional groups.

T able 3-2 - R esearchers involved in FAEW E, FA EW E II and PR O TO W E T projects

Principal investigators Organisation Country P roject

Dr. B, Clement University o f Rennes France FAEWE, FAEWE II,

PROTOWET

Prof. B. Engelen University o f Amsterdam Netherlands FAEWE

Dr. K. Henle & Dr. S. Geyer UFZ-Umweltforschungszentrum Germany PROTOWET

Dr. G. Ignat & Dr. S. Cristofor Bucharest University Romania FAEWE II

Dr. P. Johnston Trinity College, Dublin Ireland PROTOWET

Prof. J.M. Lloyd & Dr. J. Tellam

University o f Birmingham UK FAEWE, FAEWE H

Prof. E. Maltby Royal Holloway Institute for

Environmental Research

UK FAEWE, FAEWE H,

PROTOWET.

Dr. K.J. Murphy University o f Glasgow UK FAEWE, FAEWE H

Dr. M. Nilsson & Dr. K. Bishop Swedish University o f Agricultural Sciences

Sweden PROTOWET

Dr. P. Obrdlik & Dr. E. Castella WWF Auen Institute Germany FAEWE, FAEWE II

Mr. J.B. Ryan & Dr. M. Speight Irish National Paries and Wildlife Service

Ireland FAEWE

Prof J.J. Sanz, Prof R. Llamas & Dr. C. Montes

Autonomous & Complutense

Universities o f Madrid

Spain FAEWE, FAEWE II

Prof. R.K. Turner & Dr. T. Croward

University o f East Anglia UK FAEWE II

Dr. J.T.A Verhoeven University o f Utrecht Netherlands FAEWE, FAEWE II,

PROTOWET

In conjunction with empirical research into wetland processes the FAEWE II and PROTOWET projects also developed procedures for the functional assessment of river marginal wetlands. The results gained from the research studies of earlier projects were used as the technical basis to underpin the functional assessments used within the FAEWE Procedures (WERG, 1998). The FAEWE Procedures were developed to provide an assessment tool to assist planners and wetland managers in resolving decision-making dilemmas in regard to land use allocation, provision of

permits, and catchment planning (WERG, 1998). They were designed to allow a rapid

assessment of the performance of wetland processes and functions without the need for detailed empirical study.

They achieved this through two main stages; wetland database estabhshment and functional assessment. The wetland database establishment involves data collection and a short field visit. The assessment stage interrogates the information held within the wetland database to assess the

performance of the various wetland functions. During the development of the FAEWE

Procedures a number of sites across Europe were used to test the user-friendliness and accuracy of the assessments made. Data produced as a result of this exercise provided functional profiles for each of the wetland sites tested. To test the functional classification the functions that are performed within a wetland site need to be determined. Therefore the data collected during the testing of the FAEWE Procedures were also appropriate to test and vahdate the functional classification.

Table 3-3 - Functions assessed in FAEW E, FAEW E II and PR O TO W E T projects Functional Groups Functions D efinition Hydrological Floodwater retention

Retention o f stream flood water and / or retention o f surface runoff fi-om surrounding slopes

Groundwater recharge

Infiltration o f flood water into the wetland surface, followed by percolation to an aquifer

Groundwater discharge

Upward seepage o f groundwater through the wetland surface

Sediment retention Deposition o f fine sediments (clay, silt, fine sand) carried in suspension by flood water

Biogeochemical functions

Nutrient retention The storage o f excess nutrients (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) via biological, biochemical and geochemical processes in biomass (hving or dead) and soil mineral components o f a wetland

Nutrient export The removal o f excess nutrients (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) fi-om a wetland via biological, biochemical, physical and land management processes

In situ carbon retention

The retention o f carbon in the form o f partially decomposed organic matter or peat in the soil profile due to environmental conditions that reduce rates o f decomposition Ecological

fimctions

Ecosystem maintenance

The provision o f habitat for animals and plants through the interaction o f physical, chemical and biological wetland processes

Food web support The support o f food webs within and outside a wetland th r o n g the production o f biomass and its subsequent accumulation and/or export

Functional data from the empirical process studies provided an accurate determination of whether a function was being performed or not. The FAEWE Procedures provided information on functioning in the form of three outcomes;

• the function was definitely being performed; • the function was definitely not being performed;

• and the function was being performed but only to a small degree.

The empirical research and the FAEWE Procedures both examined wetland process and functional variability within wetland sites based on a spatially predefined framework. This framework resulted from the delineation of hydrogeomorphic units within the wetland sites. Results from the empirical process studies indicated that the separation of a wetland site into hydrogeomorphic units was appropriate as there was variation between hydrogeomorphic units

with regard to the performance of wetland functions (Maltby et al, 1996). The FAEWE

Procedures utilised this concept to assess functional variation between different hydrogeomorphic

types. This spatial heterogeneity in wetland functioning within individual wetlands is not

assessed by the functional classification as it does not distinguish between different areas within a wetland. Therefore, to allow testing of the functional classification information from an entire wetland site was grouped together. As a result, if a function was found to occur in any part of the site then for the purposes of testing the classification it would be recorded that the wetland was performing that fonction.

For all of the empirical study sites, and sites that had undergone functional assessment, the wetland fimctions being performed at those sites were recorded. This information could then be

used in direct comparison against the results generated from using the fimctional classification to test the accuracy of the classification in predicting the potential fimctioning of a wetland.