NATURE VERSUS NURTURE: FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF RESTORATION EFFECTS

Land-use change has altered the ability of wetlands to provide vital services such as nutrient retention. While compensatory practices attempt to restore degraded wetlands and their functions, it is difficult to evaluate the recovery of soil biogeochemical function that are critical for restoration of ecosystem services. Using solution ³¹P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, we examined the chemical forms of phosphorus (P) in soils from wetlands located across a land-use gradient. We report that soil P diversity, a functional attribute, declined upon conversion to agriculture, but recovered following restoration. Soil P diversity increased with age of restoration, and asymptotic profiles approached those observed from native wetlands. The trend in P diversity was opposite that of documented soil microbial diversity at our study site, indicating restoration of ecosystem function. The findings provide insights into links between ecosystem structure and function and provide a tool for evaluating the success of ecosystem restoration efforts.