THE ECOLOGICAL INDICATOR ROLE OF PERIPHYTON IN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION FOR WETLANDS, NORTHEAST OF CHINA

Currently, aquatic ecosystems are experiencing significant changes due to wetland restoration processes.This study examines the response of periphyton to environmental changes by using wetlands with varying restoration durations within the Naolihe National Nature Reserve, Northeast of China, as research sites.Natural wetlands within the reserve were used as a control to compare biodiversity differences and assess the impact of aquatic environmental factors on community diversity.Additionally, the variation in periphyton attached to different vascular plants was analyzed.The results showed that the species composition was dominated by Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta.Wetlands restored for two years had the highest periphyton density, while those restored for eight years had the lowest among the three groups.Only the two-year restored wetlands exhibited indicator species, including Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Euglena viridis, and Ulothrix sp.Seven species were dominant in the two-year restored wetlands, while 10 species dominated the eight-year restored wetlands.Among these, common dominant species in both natural and restored wetlands included Anabaena circinalis, Tribonema affine, and Tribonema viride.The Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Margalef richness index, and Pielou evenness index showed no significant differences among wetlands with varying restoration durations.NMDS and ANOSIM analyses further confirmed no significant difference in the periphyton community structure.Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between NO3 --N and E. viridis, Ulothrix sp., T.