As anthropogenic disturbance continues to degrade wetland condition in many geographic areas, it is imperative to inventory wetland functions to monitor potential loss of associated ecosystem services. Field-based functional assessments are resource intensive, prohibiting their widespread application at landscape scales. This obstacle can be avoided by basing functional assessments on publicly available remote sensed data. This pilot study examined the use of Watershed-based Preliminary Assessment of Wetland Function (W-PAWF) in the assessment of wetland restoration sites. W-PAWF was used to assess 15 depressional wetlands in the US Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. These sites spanned a human alteration gradient (i.e., natural wetlands, restored wetlands, and prior-converted croplands) to determine the sensitivity of the assessment method to variation in the assemblage and performance of wetland functions. Field-based rapid assessment methods were used to verify the W-PAWF assessment and detect potential functional gaps of importance to wetland restoration. Results indicate that W-PAWF can differentiate varying levels of restoration condition, but refinement will be necessary to assess functional restoration goals related to biogeochemistry and water quality. An evaluation of the field-based methods and an alternate remote functional assessment system suggest the potential for these functional characteristics to be incorporated in future iterations of the W-PAWF.

中文翻译：

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沿海平原洼地湿地沿蚀变梯度的远程湿地功能评估

由于人为干扰继续使许多地理区域的湿地条件退化，因此必须清点湿地功能以监测相关生态系统服务的潜在损失。基于现场的功能评估是资源密集型的，禁止它们在景观尺度上的广泛应用。通过基于公开可用的遥感数据进行功能评估，可以避免这一障碍。该试点研究检查了基于流域的湿地功能初步评估 (W-PAWF) 在湿地恢复地点评估中的使用。W-PAWF 用于评估美国中大西洋沿岸平原的 15 个洼地湿地。这些地点跨越了人类改变的梯度（即自然湿地、恢复湿地、和先前转化的农田）以确定评估方法对湿地功能组合和性能变化的敏感性。基于现场的快速评估方法用于验证 W-PAWF 评估并检测对湿地恢复具有重要意义的潜在功能差距。结果表明，W-PAWF 可以区分不同级别的恢复条件，但需要细化以评估与生物地球化学和水质相关的功能恢复目标。对基于现场的方法和替代远程功能评估系统的评估表明，这些功能特性有可能被纳入 W-PAWF 的未来迭代中。基于现场的快速评估方法用于验证 W-PAWF 评估并检测对湿地恢复具有重要意义的潜在功能差距。结果表明，W-PAWF 可以区分不同级别的恢复条件，但需要细化以评估与生物地球化学和水质相关的功能恢复目标。对基于现场的方法和替代远程功能评估系统的评估表明，这些功能特性有可能被纳入 W-PAWF 的未来迭代中。基于现场的快速评估方法用于验证 W-PAWF 评估并检测对湿地恢复具有重要意义的潜在功能差距。结果表明，W-PAWF 可以区分不同级别的恢复条件，但需要细化以评估与生物地球化学和水质相关的功能恢复目标。对基于现场的方法和替代远程功能评估系统的评估表明，这些功能特性有可能被纳入 W-PAWF 的未来迭代中。