Coastal Wetlands of Three Canadian Great Lakes: Inventory, Current Conservation Initiatives, and Patterns of Variation

Abstract

The decline of wetlands, including those in the Great Lakes coastal zone, prompted the Government of Ontario to initiate steps towards a wetland management policy in 1981. Wetland inventory and evaluation in southern Ontario began in 1983. To date, 1982 wetlands have been evaluated totalling 390 000 ha. These include 160 coastal wetlands, 64 of these on Lake Ontario and the remainder on the other Great Lakes and connecting channels. Current wetland conservation initiatives are outlined including the Wetlands Planning Policy Statement and Conservation Lands Act. Although the values of Ontario's coastal wetland areas are increasingly being recognized, there has been no comprehensive study to show patterns in coastal wetland ecology. Aided by analysis of variance, ordination, and cluster analysis, we show patterns of variation in wetland and site types, soils, dissolved solids, vegetation complexity, and rare flora and fauna which differ between wetlands along Lakes Ontario, Huron, Erie, St. Clair, and connecting channels. Wetlands of Lake Huron reflect a more northern species composition, less organic soil, and more swamp and fen habitat. Along Lakes Erie, Ontario, and St. Clair the predominant marshes have smaller swamp components, organic soils, and considerable dissolved solids.