Edward Shawn DeKeyser. Edward.Dekeyser@ndsu.edu   Shawn DeKeyser earned his Ph.D. in Animal and Range Sciences at NDSU in December 2000. His current position is Rangeland Specialist with AES Animal and Range Sciences at NDSU.    Originally from Lakin, Kansas, Shawn earned a B.S. degree in biology at Jamestown College in 1991, and a M.S. in Animal and Range Sciences in 1995. Shawn worked as a botanist on a wetlands restoration study for the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center for the field season of 1997.

Shawn DeKeyser assessing wetlands in North Dakota

A Vegetative Classification of Seasonal and Temporary Wetlands Across a Disturbance Gradient Using A Multimetric Approach

Fellow: Edward S. DeKeyser, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, NDSU

Advisor: Don Kirby, Professor of Animal and Range Sciences, NDSU

Matching Support/Collaboration: North Dakota State Department of Health, Bismarck; USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND

Degree Progress: Ph.D., December 2000

Dissertation Abstract: An Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) was developed for quantitatively assessing the quality of seasonal and temporary wetlands. Between 1998 and 1999, vegetative composition was measured from 46 seasonal and 27 temporary wetlands mainly concentrated on the Missouri Coteau Vegetation Zone of central North Dakota. Wetlands were selected based on a range of disturbance from no disturbance (idle native prairie) to heavily disturbed (cropped). Vegetative data was delineated into metrics or characteristics of the data set (species richness, percentage of introduced and annual plants, etc.) and analyzed using principal components and cluster analyses. Five disturbance or quality classes, very good, good, fair, poor, and very poor, were determined. Based on these classes, ranges and scores were then assigned for each metric. By using this classification system, additional seasonal and temporary wetlands can now be assessed and placed in quality classes for mitigation or ecological purposes, such as tracking the improvement of restored or reclaimed wetlands, wildlife habitat evaluation, and evaluation of other ecological functions. 

A copy of the dissertation can be obtained from Prof. D.R. Kirby. 

Advisor: Dr. Donald R. Kirby Professor of Animal and Range Sciences, North Dakota State University dkirby@ndsuext.nodak.edu