Decomposition of Three Common Moist-Soil Managed Wetland Plant Species

Abstract

Moist-soil wetland management is used to precisely control delivery, duration, and timing of water addition to, and removal from, managed wetlands with targeted responses including germination and growth of desirable moist-soil plant species. Similarly, water delivery and removal drives decomposition of moist-soil plants as well as nutrient cycling within these systems, which is a key driver of productivity in such managed wetlands. Through deployment of litter bags, we examined rate of mass loss and decay coefficients of three locally abundant moist-soil annual species that are potentially valuable wintering-waterfowl food sources (nodding smartweed Persicaria lapathifolia, red-rooted flatnut sedge Cyperus erythrorhizos, and toothcup Ammannia coccinea) within man-made moist-soil managed wetlands on the Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area in East-central Texas. All three species lost nearly 100% of their mass during an 11-mo deployment period, where rate of mass lost and decay coefficient rates were driven by time, because all moist-soil managed wetlands used were inundated for the duration of this study. Plant materials exposed to persistent inundation in shallow wetlands exhibited rates of mass loss typical of the first two stages of decomposition, during which a majority of plant material mass was lost. However, during this study, typical inundation and drawdown regimes were not implemented, which may have delayed or prolonged decomposition processes, because litter bags of focal species were inundated for the duration of this study. Both locally and regionally specific moist-soil management hydroperiod manipulation should include both drawdown and inundation, to incorporate temporal transitions between these conditions. Such practices will allow wetland managers to more expeditiously meet plant management and waterfowl food production goals within moist-soil managed wetlands.

Distinct microbial communities alter litter decomposition rates in a fertilized coastal plain wetland

“…The plant species that are adapted to these low-nutrient ecosystems can maintain positive population growth and add organic C to soils. Further, flooded environments, such as wetlands, are also known to support anaerobic microbial processes, which result in slower rates of decomposition (Collins et al 2015). Taken together, low-nutrient environments can be sites of long-term C storage in soils because of high plant biodiversity leading to organic C inputs and balanced with slower decomposition rates (Hooper et al 2005, Kleber et al 2011.…”

The Influence of Water Depth on Energy Availability for Ducks

“…Most decomposition information comes from farther south than this study area and, because decomposition may vary with latitude (Williams et al 2014), seeds in this study area may decompose less than published estimates from elsewhere. If seeds in this study area were losing at least 50% of their mass by 120 days as in Collins et al (2015), I would have observed substantially more depletion than what I observed. Depredation by non-ducks could also account for some of the depletion.…”

“…Hagy and Kaminski () estimated that Japanese millet ( Echinochloa frumentacea ) decomposed 8.9% every 2 weeks during winter in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. In Texas, 3 species of moist‐soil plant seeds lost about 33% biomass during the first 45 days of decomposition and between 50% and 80% by 120 days (Collins et al ). Most decomposition information comes from farther south than this study area and, because decomposition may vary with latitude (Williams et al ), seeds in this study area may decompose less than published estimates from elsewhere.…”

A vegetation classification and description of white-winged flufftail ( Sarothrura ayresi ) habitat at selected high-altitude peatlands in South Africa

“…Areas become unsuitable for the white-winged flufftail when vegetation structure is degraded [28]. The effect of cattle grazing is also evident in the dispersal of the declared alien invader weed Persicaria lapathifolia, which easily establishes in disturbed areas where moist conditions prevail [32]. This weed, which is prominent within community 1.3 (Middelpunt Wetland), is normally introduced into peatlands through drainage water from adjacent cultivated lands or areas where cattle are fed.…”