Abstract
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is a rooted flowering plant found below the surface of aquatic environments. It plays a vital role in aquatic ecosystems by improving water quality, stabilizing sediment, supporting biodiversity, and providing food and habitat for aquatic organisms. Despite its importance, SAV is in decline, threatening the many ecosystem services it provides. This study focuses on Vallisneria americana, a freshwater SAV species found in oligohaline regions and recently targeted for restoration in two Florida estuaries: Kings Bay and the Caloosahatchee River Estuary. The goal was to compare invertebrate abundance, diversity, and productivity across a gradient of healthy, restored, and degraded conditions, and to examine how faunal communities relate to V. americana status. Invertebrate cores were collected from vegetated and unvegetated sites in both estuaries as a measure of habitat quality and restoration success. Results showed that Kings Bay, a more successfully restored estuary, supported higher invertebrate abundance and productivity, while the Caloosahatchee River Estuary exhibited greater species evenness. Species composition in Caloosahatchee suggested tolerance to disturbance and low habitat complexity, whereas Kings Bay hosted taxa associated with healthier, more stable environments. These findings underscore the ecological value of successful SAV restoration and offer encouraging insight into the potential for habitat recovery and faunal support through future restoration efforts.
