Effect of the flood of 1993 on Boltonia decurrens, a rare floodplain plant

Smith, Marian; Keevin, Thomas M.; Mettler‐Mcclure, Paige; Barkau, Robert L.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1646(199803/04)14:2<191::aid-rrr497>3.3.co;2-1

Cited by 15 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…These shore zone endemics include many plants (e.g., dune grasses, floodplain specialists, most aquatic plants), invertebrates (including specialists that depend on shore zone plants), and vertebrates (e.g., many fishes, amphibians, turtles, shorebirds, terns, waterfowl). The transformation of shore zones by humans has especially serious consequences for the continued survival of these species; it is no surprise that several of these shore zone specialists in the United States are now extinct or imperiled (e.g., Pitcher's thistle Cirsium pitcheri, the decurrent false aster Boltonia decurrens (Smith et al 1998), the piping plover Charadrius melodus, and the least tern Sterna antillarum).…”

Section: Support Of Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of freshwater shore zones

2010

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Freshwater shore zones are among the most ecologically valuable parts of the planet, but have been heavily damaged by human activities. Because the management and rehabilitation of freshwater shore zones could be improved by better use of ecological knowledge, we summarize here what is known about their ecological functioning. Shore zones are complexes of habitats that support high biodiversity, which is enhanced by high physical complexity and connectivity. Shore zones dissipate large amounts of physical energy, can receive and process extraordinarily high inputs of autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter, and are sites of intensive nutrient cycling. Interactions between organic matter inputs (including wood), physical energy, and the biota are especially important. In general, the ecological character of shore zone ecosystems is set by inputs of physical energy, geologic (or anthropogenic) structure, the hydrologic regime, nutrient inputs, the biota, and climate. Humans have affected freshwater shore zones by laterally compressing and stabilizing the shore zone, changing hydrologic regimes, shortening and simplifying shorelines, hardening shorelines, tidying shore zones, increasing inputs of physical energy that impinge on shore zones, pollution, recreational activities, resource extraction, introducing alien species, changing climate, and intensive development in the shore zone. Systems to guide management and restoration by quantifying ecological services provided by shore zones and balancing multiple (and sometimes conflicting) values are relatively recent and imperfect. We close by identifying leading challenges for shore zone ecology and management.

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Section: Support Of Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of freshwater shore zones

2010

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“…Flowering plant size was defined by height (small flowering plants, Ͻ46 cm; large flowering plants, Ն46 cm); plant height is positively related to seed production. Boltonia decurrens is a prolific seed producer (Smith and Keevin 1998), and up to 15 vegetative ramets can originate from the base of each large senescing plant in the fall (Redmond 1993, Baker 1997. This reproductive potential, however, is seldom realized.…”

Section: A Demographic Model For B Decurrensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is not surprising that B. decurrens lacks a significant seed bank, even though it lives in a disturbed environment. Light is required for germination Baskin 1988, Smith andKeevin 1998) and the disturbance provided by flooding leaves a thick layer of sediment as flood waters recede, rendering a seed bank useless. In addition, seeds of B. decurrens have a permeable seed coat and may have Notes: Superscripts denote environmental conditions: (i, j ) denotes flood condition i and precipitation condition j. Dots indicate growth rates calculated from seasonal matrices averaged over flood or precipitation conditions.…”

Section: Parameter Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More information on the data utilized in the model can be found in a series of theses, papers and agency reports, including the following: seed production of small and large flowering plants (Smith and Keevin 1998, Tofari 2000, Cochran 2002); seed viability and germination (Redmond 1993, Moss 1997, Smith and Keevin 1998; seed dormancy and contribution of the seed bank (Redmond 1993, Baskin andBaskin 2002); transition of small and large rosettes to small and large flowering plants (Tofari 2000, Cochran 2002; J. Brooks, unpublished data); seedling survival (Redmond 1993, Moss 1997, Mettler-Cherry 2004; and survival of small and large flowering plants and the number of basal rosettes produced by each (Redmond 1993, Baker 1997, Tofari 2000.…”

Section: Parameter Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The B. decurrens metapopulation is largely confined to the narrow littoral zone along a 400-km stretch of the Illinois River, and extinction of large populations is common (Schwegman and Nyboer 1985, Smith and Mettler 2002. The genesis of new populations is facilitated by the ability of the seeds to float for extended periods (Smith and Keevin 1998), provided that suitable habitat exists in areas connected to the ebb and flow of the river. The Illinois River flows slowly and meets a hydrological barrier at its confluence with the Mississippi River.…”

Section: Future Model Extensionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stochastic Flood and Precipitation Regimes and the Population Dynamics of a Threatened Floodplain Plant

Smith

Caswell

Mettler-Cherry

2005

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Boltonia decurrens is an endangered plant restricted to the Illinois River Valley. Its complex life cycle has evolved in response to the dynamics of the historic flood regime, which has changed dramatically in the last century due to the construction of navigation dams and agricultural levees. To explore the effects of these changes, we developed deterministic and stochastic matrix population models of the demography of Boltonia. We used periodic matrix models to incorporate intra-annual seasonal variation. We estimated parameters as a function of the timing of spring flood recession (early or late) and of growing season precipitation (high or low). Late floods and/or low precipitation reduce population growth (). Early floods and high precipitation lead to explosive population growth. Elasticity analysis shows that changes in floods and precipitation alter the life history pathways responsible for population growth, from annual to biennial and eventually clonal pathways. We constructed and analyzed a stochastic model in which flood timing and precipitation vary independently, and we computed the stochastic growth rate (log s ) and the variance growth rate ( 2 ) as functions of the frequency of late floods and low precipitation. Using historical data on floods and rainfall over the last 100 years, we found that log s has declined as a result of hydrological changes accompanying the regulation of the river. Stochastic elasticity analysis showed that over that time the contribution of annual life history pathways to log s has declined as the contributions of biennial and clonal pathways have increased. Over the same time period, 2 has increased, in agreement with observations of large fluctuations in local B. decurrens populations. Undoubtedly, many plant and animal species evolved in concert with dynamic habitats and are now threatened by anthropogenic changes in those dynamics. The data and analyses used in this study can be applied to management and development strategies to preserve other dynamic systems.

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The role of river confluences and meanderings in preserving local hot spots for threatened plant species in riparian ecosystems

Osawa

Mitsuhashi

Niwa

et al. 2011

Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst.

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ABSTRACT1. While flooding creates diverse habitats for plants and animals in riparian ecosystems, it presents a nuisance to human settlement. Thus, such areas that are frequently disturbed by flooding are more likely to experience strong artificial control measures.2. This hypothesis was tested and a method was developed to identify these areas using river maps. The effects of two terrain components that could potentially influence flooding frequency (the number of confluences and the degree of meandering per unit area) on both the distribution of threatened species and the degree of artificial modification were examined at two different scales (grid sizes) using two riparian data sources.3. The numbers of threatened plant species and artificial constructions increased with the number of confluences and the degree of meandering per unit area. The number of threatened plant species was not correlated with the number of artificial constructions.4. In addition, the results suggest that confluences and meanderings provide different habitat conditions for threatened plant species. Confluences may provide more frequently disturbed habitats, whereas meanderings may provide relatively stable habitats.5. Based on these results, through flooding, both confluences and meanderings are important for creating and maintaining the diverse habitats used by threatened species, but these habitats are also currently threatened by artificial controls. We suggest that a per-unit-area confluence density and river length map is a helpful tool for locating local biodiversity hot spots. The identification of major reservoirs of biodiversity that are currently threatened can improve conservation and management planning.

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Effect of the flood of 1993 on Boltonia decurrens, a rare floodplain plant

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Ecology of freshwater shore zones

Ecology of freshwater shore zones

Stochastic Flood and Precipitation Regimes and the Population Dynamics of a Threatened Floodplain Plant

The role of river confluences and meanderings in preserving local hot spots for threatened plant species in riparian ecosystems

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