An Ecological Study of Hardwood Swamps in North‐Central Florida

Abstract

The hardwood swamps of north—central Florida may be divided into two groups: (1) mixed swamps and (2) bayheads. The former is characterized by deciduous species and the latter by evergreen species. Mixed swamps occupy sites which are usually higher in calcium, magnesium, calcium/magnesium ratios, calcium/potassium ratios, pH, and depth of maximum flooding. Sabal palmetto, Fraxinum caroliniana, Ulmus floridana, and Taxodium distichum are more restricted to the mixed swamp habitat, while Gordonia lasianthus, Persea palustris, and Magnolia virginiana are more confined to bayhead. Quercus nigra, Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Nyssa sylvatica occupy both habitats. Though several species link the two communities, the two habitats can be effectively separated by certain edaphic variables.

Hydrology, vegetation, and soils of riverine and tidal floodplain forests of the lower Suwannee River, Florida, and potential impacts of flow reductions

“…25) and locations of reach boundaries for swamps, low bottomland hardwoods, and mixed forests. Tidal species such as Magnolia virginiana, Fraxinus profunda, and Persea palustris are typically found in swamps with very shallow flooding (Monk, 1966;Clewell, 1986;Light and others, 1993;Herring and Judd, 1995). Seedlings of Nyssa biflora grow more slowly than those of Nyssa aquatica (Harms, 1973).…”

An Old-Growth Definition for Evergreen Bay Forests and Related Seral Communities

“…However, bay forests are considered rare and are found in scattered patches, often in a mosaic with other forest types in various stages of succession (Schafale and Harcombe 1983, Abrahamson and others 1984, Bennett and Nelson 1991. Pocosins, Carolina bays and sandhill seeps, stream heads, and stream margins will often support this forest type (Wells 1928, Monk 1966, Waggoner 1975, Christensen et al 1981, Nelson 1986). …”

“…The soils are histic due to constant saturation, although the seeps are seldom flooded. Stream margins and heads of stream branches along the Gulf Coastal Plain may also develop peaty soils and support bay forests (Monk 1966). These bayheads are visually Hamilton 1984).…”

“…In the more fertile shrub bog communities, fire those of alluvial swamps with lower concentrations of appears to be a major influence in succession (Christensen cations and a lower pH; however, they are more fertile than 1981). Kologiski (1977) used the term "fire disclimax" to soils associated with cypress ponds (Monk 1966(Monk , 1968. describe the successional stage commonly known as pocosin…”

“…Fire cycles of 50 to 150 years are required for the development of mature evergreen bay forests (Wharton 1978). Buell (1946) and Monk (1966) believed that the climax vegetation community of a Carolina bay shrub bog was the broadleaf bay forest and also considered this forest type successor to Atlantic white-cedar stands and pine pocosins when fire was absent from the ecosystem for long intervals. Buell (1946) went so far as to suggest that the dominant climax tree species would be swampbay (also known as redbay) [P. pubescens (borbonia)] due to its extreme shade tolerance.…”