Managing and monitoring wetland restorations for nutrient retention is a critical component of Ohio’s H2Ohio Water Quality Initiative, which aims to reduce nutrient loading to Lake Erie in part through wetland restoration. Leveraging data from the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program and funding from the Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI), this study advances understanding of mechanisms behind wetland vegetation nutrient cycling and links nutrient retention outcomes to the species and functional traits that contribute most to nutrient retention. We selected 12 plant species commonly found in H2Ohio wetland restorations and quantified biomass and nutrient concentrations in the summer (peak biomass), fall (resorption), and following spring (overwinter storage) to capture annual nutrient cycling. Additionally, we conducted annual litter-bag decay experiments and monitored flow-event-driven sedimentation in areas where the species were dominant. Our results identify species that may enhance wetland nutrient retention through distinct mechanisms, including high rates of overwinter nutrient retention (e.g. Carex vulpinoidea), slower decay (e.g. Juncus effusus), and increased sediment capture (e.g. Asclepias incarnata). These findings inform species selection for wetland restorations by emphasizing functional traits and mechanisms associated with annual nutrient retention, providing guidance for practitioners beyond individual species selections.
