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Woody vegetation communities of tidal freshwater swamps in S outh C arolina, G eorgia and F lorida ( US ) with comparisons to similar systems in the US and S outh A merica
Author(s) -
Duberstein Jamie A.,
Conner William H.,
Krauss Ken W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.1111/jvs.12115
Subject(s) - swamp , geography , vegetation (pathology) , coastal plain , ecology , floodplain , biology , cartography , medicine , pathology
Questions What are the general tree communities found in tidal freshwater swamps along four large coastal rivers in the southeastern U nited S tates ( US )? How do these communities compare to other tidal freshwater swamps in the US and S outh A merica? Locations Tidal floodplains of major rivers along the A tlantic and G ulf coasts of the southeastern US : S avannah, A ltamaha, S uwannee and A palachicola R ivers. Methods An extensive survey of trees and shrubs was conducted to describe the communities from a range of tidal freshwater swamps. River basins studied include micro‐tidal ( G ulf coast) and meso‐tidal ( A tlantic coast) regimes, and study areas were located both near and distant to primary channels. A total of 128 plots (100 m 2 each) were inventoried, distributed evenly over the S avannah and A ltamaha R ivers along the A tlantic coast, and the S uwannee and A palachicola R ivers along the G ulf coast. Multivariate statistics helped discern communities and the significant indicator species in each. Results Four general communities were characterized and named according to the strongest individual indicator species in each: W ater T upelo ( N yssa aquatica ) C ommunity, S wamp T upelo ( N yssa biflora ) C ommunity, D warf P almetto ( S abal minor ) C ommunity and C abbage P alm ( S abal palmetto ) C ommunity. Conclusions Descriptions of most tidal freshwater swamps in the southeastern US fit within the communities described in this study. Because studies that make inferences between environmental drivers (e.g. salinity, hydroperiod, hurricanes) and specific community types are best applied to the same communities (but perhaps different river systems), this work provides a framework by which tidal freshwater forested wetlands can be accurately compared based on their tree communities. We suggest that, within the broad range of our inventories, the four communities described identify the primary associations that should be tracked within most tidal freshwater swamps of the US . However, we identify some river basins in the US that do not fit this construct. Diversity of major tree communities in tidal freshwater swamps outside the US is generally much lower (with the notable exception of Amazonian hardwood tidal várzea), as are basal area values.