Evaluating Individual Health Metrics of Pumpkinseed As a Proxy for Restoration Success in Coastal Wetlands of the St Lawrence River

Global degradation of wetland ecosystems presents one of the largest threats to biodiversity, with habitat fragmentation, homogenization, and decreasing water quality acting as the primary drivers. Habitat restoration and enhancement have become common conservation practices aimed at restoring ecosystem function and ultimately facilitating biodiversity recovery.  In coastal wetland systems, restoration initiatives often include the creation of critical habitat such as spawning and nursery grounds. To evaluate the effect of a habitat enhancement initiative, Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) were collected and analyzed for individual health metrics at Charlottenburgh Marsh, a Provincially Significant Wetland situated in the Cornwall Area of Concern. For two areas within the Charlottenburgh wetland complex, a pair-wise comparison between enhanced and natural sites was conducted, as well as sampling of a nearby riverine wetland. The temporal response of fish health to habitat restoration was also evaluated by comparing the condition of Pumpkinseeds from areas that have been restored for various time periods (2001-2004, 2004-2008, 2008-2013). Using individual health metrics (blood glucose, hematocrit, condition factor, energy density, modified health assessment index) of an abundant resident fish species as a proxy for community health, this study aims to evaluate the success of habitat enhancement in a coastal wetland setting.