Composition and vulnerability of bottomland hardwood forests of the coastal plain province in the south central United States

McWilliams, William H.; Rosson, James F.

doi:10.1016/0378-1127(90)90211-s

Cited by 27 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Forming the bulk of forested wetlands in the south central United States, bottomland hardwood forest area has declined slowly in recent years (McWilliams and Rosson 1990). Slow rate changes may belie cumulative impacts of prior land clearing and continuing anthropogenic disturbances on remaining bottomland hardwood forests' species composition, community types, and resource values.…”

Section: Decline In Bottomland Hardwood Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional forest fragmentation effects on bottomland hardwood community types and resource values

Rudis

1995

Landscape Ecol

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In human-dominated regions, forest vegetation removal impacts remaining ecosystems but regional-scale biological consequences and resource value changes are not well known. Using forest resource survey data, I examined current bottomland hardwood community types and a range of fragment size classes in the south central United States. Analyses examined resource value indicators, appraised tree-based flood zone and shade tolerance indices, and identified potential regional-scale processes. Findings revealed that the largest fragments had fewer tree species, reduced anthropogenic use evidence, and more older and wetter community types than small fragments. Results also suggested the need for incorporating hydrologic, geomorphic, and understory vegetation parameters in regional forest resource monitoring efforts.Two regional-scale processes are hypothesized: (1) forest fragmentation occurs more frequently in drier habitats and dry zone (inundated _< 2 months annually), younger seral stage bottomland community types; and (2) forest fragmentation induces establishment of drier habitats or dry zone, younger seral stage community types. Both hypotheses suggest that regional forest fragmentation impacts survival of distinct community types, anthropogenic uses, and multiple resource values.

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Section: Decline In Bottomland Hardwood Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional forest fragmentation effects on bottomland hardwood community types and resource values

Rudis

1995

Landscape Ecol

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“…Forested wetlands include those wetlands variously described as bottomland hardwood forests (Clark andBenforado 198 l, Wharton et al 1982, McWilliams andRosson 1990), floodplain and riparian forests (Lowrance et al 1984, Penka et at. 1985, fringe wetlands (Lugo 1990), riverine wetlands (Brinson 1990), streamside forests (Bell et at.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus retention in non-tidal palustrine forssted wetlands of the mid-atlantic region

Walbridge

Struthers

1993

Wetlands

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Abstract:We: 1) quantified the areal extent of wetlands by type in Caroline County, VA to estimate the relative importance of non-tidal palustrine forested wetlands as a component of the wetland resources in Virginia's mid-Atlantic coastal plain, 2) used a comparative literature review to identify factors that might be important in controlling P retention in these wetlands, and 3) evaluated three indices that have been used to compare P adsorption potentials in wetland soils. Non-tidal palustrine forested wetlands comprised 66.0% of the 11,372 ha of wetlands in Caroline Co. The majority were either seasonally (4000 ha) or temporarily (1596 ha) flooded wetlands dominated by broad-leaved deciduous species. These wetlands are both small (averaging 5.4 and 2.4 ha in area, respectively) and numerous in this region. Adsorption by A1 and Fe (hydr)oxides and precipitation ofAl, Fe, and Ca phosphates probably controls dissolved phosphate retention and long-term P storage in these wetlands, although P storage in the woody biomass of aggrading forests may also be important. Phosphorus adsorption isotherms, a single-point phosphorus adsorption index, and concentrations of oxalate-extractrable (noncrystalline) A1 and Ire have all been used as comparative indices of P sorption potentials in wetland soils, although the latter may represent the best single index of P sorption capacity because of its direct relationship to the mechanisms controlling P adsorption in soil. When using these indices to compare wetland P sorption potentials, it is important to consider differences in soil depth, profile heterogeneity, and bulk density between sites. Actual amounts of phosphate retained by a wetland will also be influenced by the degree of phosphate loading it receives, as determined by hydrology, phosphate sources in the watershed, and the P sorption potentials of surrounding upland soils. Because of the low P sorption potentials of sandy soils in coastal plain uplands, non-tidal palustrine forested wetlands in the midAtlantic coastal plain may perform particularly important functions with respect to dissolved phosphate removal and retention on the landscape.

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“…Forested floodplains (i.e., bottomland hardwoods) currently comprise about 21% of the timberland in the Coastal Plain of the southern United States (McWilliams and Faulkner 1991). In 1977, it was estimated that the total area associated with these systems had decreased by 56%, primarily as a result of agricultural land-use conversion (Clark and Benforado 1981).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1977, it was estimated that the total area associated with these systems had decreased by 56%, primarily as a result of agricultural land-use conversion (Clark and Benforado 1981). Presently, losses continue at approximately 65,000 ha/yr (McWilliams and Faulkner 1991). As utilization pressures increase, public concern with regard to the maintenance of these wetlands remains high.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of forest management on biogeochemical functions in southern forested wetlands

Walbridge

Lockaby

1994

Wetlands

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Southern forested wetlands perform two important biogeochemical functions on the landscape: 1) nutrient (N and P) removal from incident surface, subsurface, and ground waters, and 2) export of organic carbon and associated nutrients to aquatic ecosystems downstream, tn addition to P sediment deposition. which can range from 1.6 to 36.0 kg ha -t yr -a P, denitrification of NO3-N (0.5 to 350 kg ha i yr ') and P adsorption (130 to 199 kg ha k yr ') can be important mechanisms associated with N and P removal, respectively'. Biological processes, uptake by plants (15.0 to 51.8 kg ha-' yr-' for N; 0.2 to 3.8 kg ha -t yr-' for P) and microorganism absorption (16.2 to 87.0 kg ha-' yr -~ for N; 6.6 to 40.0 kg ha -~ yr -t for P) are also important and are intimately associated with organic matter export. Clearcut harvests (ground-based or aerial), followed by natural regeneration, are the most common silvicultural techniques used in forested floodplains in the South. Ground-based methods have been shown to increase soil bulk density and decrease hydraulic conductivity and redox potential in wetter soils. In addition to the increases in soil temperature and soil wetness that frequently occur following forest harvesting, these added effects may be responsible for the reduced productivity and altered species composition observed following ground-based vs. aerial harvests. Changes in denitrificalion will be a function of the degree to which harvesting affects soil redox potential, substrate (C) availability, and nitrate production. In theory, denitrification rates should increase following harvesting, but low nitrate availability in acid soils may limit this effect. The effects of harvesting on P adsorption processes in forested wetland soils have not been studied. Reductions in plant uptake and litterfall and changes in species composition following harvesting could alter both nutrient retention/transformation and organic C export functions. On wetter sites, canopy removal may stimulate algal populations, providing a short-term mechanism for conserving geochemical exports. Clearcut harvest systems that minimize alterations in soil hydrology and promote rapid vegetation regrowth should have the least effect on biogeochemical functions in southern forested wetlands.

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Composition and vulnerability of bottomland hardwood forests of the coastal plain province in the south central United States

Cited by 27 publications

References 13 publications

Regional forest fragmentation effects on bottomland hardwood community types and resource values

Regional forest fragmentation effects on bottomland hardwood community types and resource values

Phosphorus retention in non-tidal palustrine forssted wetlands of the mid-atlantic region

Effects of forest management on biogeochemical functions in southern forested wetlands

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