Effects of experimental disturbances on a tropical freshwater marsh invaded by the African grass Echinochloa pyramidalis

Rosas, Hugo López; Moreno‐Casasola, Patricia; Mendelssohn, Irving A.

doi:10.1672/0277-5212(2006)26[593:eoedoa]2.0.co;2

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In the study site March is less illuminated (mean daily hours light0/12.64), cooler (mean daily temperature 0/22.68C) and drier (mean daily precipitation 0/0.84 mm) than August (13.17 hours, 26.38C and 9.84 mm respectively). Despite this temporal variation, we expect little water stress in the wetland because the water level in extremely dry years is not deeper than 35 cm under the soil level (Ló pez Rosas et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of an African grass invasion on vegetation, soil and interstitial water characteristics in a tropical freshwater marsh in La Mancha, Veracruz (Mexico)

Rosas

Moreno‐Casasola

Mendelssohn

2005

Journal of Plant Interactions

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The transformation of freshwater wetlands to pastures is a common practice in Mexico. This rapid loss of wetlands contrasts with the scarce information that exists about these ecosystems. To identify the environmental factors that control vegetation structure of a freshwater wetland invaded by the African grass Echinochloa pyramidalis , we characterized the vegetation (species composition, cover and aerial biomass), soil (moisture, redox potential, bulk density and topography) and water (water depth level, electric conductivity and pH) in two seasons of the year (dry and rainy). In addition, we analyzed the soil and water of three vegetation areas in the wetland, one dominated by E. pyramidalis , another by Sagittaria lancifolia and a third by Typha domingensis . The parameters associated with the hydrology of the wetland (water level, soil moisture, redox potential and bulk density) explained the plant species distribution. The invasive grass dominated in the relatively drier areas in the wetland while native species such as S. lancifolia , T. domingensis and Pontederia sagitatta dominated wetter sites. Introduction of E. pyramidalis has caused negative changes in the wetland, in particular a decrease of the diversity of plant species. In addition, we believe that the invader grass, as a C4 species, has more efficient use of water than the native plants, as well as a larger biomass, characteristics that can change the hydrological pattern of this wetland.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of an African grass invasion on vegetation, soil and interstitial water characteristics in a tropical freshwater marsh in La Mancha, Veracruz (Mexico)

Rosas

Moreno‐Casasola

Mendelssohn

2005

Journal of Plant Interactions

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“…For example, the coastal wetlands in the Mexican state of Veracruz are threatened mainly by cattle ranching, petrochemical activities and urbanization. Natural freshwater wetlands are becoming rare as a result of the impact of human activities (Moreno-Casasola 2008); most freshwater wetlands show significant changes in their ecology, mainly in relation to species composition, invasion of exotic species, siltation, pollution and hydrological regime (Travieso-Bello et al 2005, López Rosas et al 2006, Escutia-Lara et al 2009, Moreno-Casasola et al 2009). This has resulted in high costs-in both lives and economic welfare-for local communities, mainly through increased flooding, decreased soil productivity and increased pollution by agrochemicals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil water retention and carbon pools in tropical forested wetlands and marshes of the Gulf of Mexico

Campos

Hernández

Moreno‐Casasola

et al. 2011

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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The ability of marshes and forested wetlands to provide environmental services (water retention in soil and carbon storage) was evaluated at three locations along the coast of Veracruz, Mexico. Hydro-periods were obtained for the different vegetation communities of marshes and forested wetlands. Total organic carbon contents were 26.2% in Pachira swamp, 23.1% in Ficus swamp and 11.2% in marsh soils. The largest values of hydraulically active pore space were observed for marshes (0.79 cm 3 cm -3 ), and the lowest in forested wetlands (0.57 cm 3 cm -3 ). Soil water holding capacity ranged from 556 to 834 L m -2 for swamp areas and from 687 to 880 L m -2 for marshes. The thickness of soil organic layers in the wetland studied had a major control on soil water storage. This suggests that a vast amount of rain water could be retained in the soil. The results indicate that both swamps and marshes play important roles in their capacities to retain water and sequester carbon, although there were no significant differences among them.Key words environmental services; freshwater wetlands; Ficus; hydro-periods; organic soils; Pachira aquatica; swamp; water storage capacity; Mexico Rétention de l'eau des sols et pools de carbone dans les régions tropicales humides boisées et les marais du Golfe du MexiqueRésumé La capacité des marais et zones humides boisées à fournir des services environnementaux (rétention d'eau dans le sol et stockage du carbone) a été évaluée pour trois sites de la côte de Veracruz, au Mexique. Des hydro-périodes ont été obtenues pour les différentes communautés végétales des marais et des zones humides boisées. Les teneurs en carbone organique total ont été de 26,2% dans le marais Pachira and Ficus are swamps, thus forested wetlands. I believe they are in french "humid boisées" Pachira, 23, 1% dans les marais Ficus et 11.2% dans les sols de marais. Les plus grandes valeurs de l'espace poreux hydrauliquement actif ont été observées pour les marais (0.79 cm 3 cm -3 ), et les plus faibles dans les zones humides boisées (0.57 cm 3 cm -3 ). La capacité de rétention en eau du sol varie de 556 à 834 L m -2 pour les zones marécageuses et de 687 à 880 L m -2 pour les marais. L'épaisseur des couches de sol organique dans les zones humides étudiées exerçe un contrôle majeur sur le stockage en eau du sol. Ceci suggère qu'une grande quantité d'eau de pluie pourrait être retenue dans le sol. Les résultats indiquent que les marécages et les marais jouent un rôle important dans leur capacité à retenir l'eau et à piéger le carbone, bien qu'il n'y ait aucune différence significative parmi eux.

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“…Zizaniopsis miliacea es otra gramínea de humedales, importante para la protección de fauna. Entre los pastos registrados, Cynodon dactylon y Echinochloa pyramidalis son introducidos (Valdes-Reyna y Dávila, 1995;López Rosas et al, 2006). En el humedal de la Popotera se observa vegetación fl otante dominada por Eichhornia crassipes, Pontederia sagittata, Hymenachne amplexicaulis y Thalia geniculata.…”

Section: Moreno-casasola Et Alunclassified

“…Muchos de ellos han sido convertidos en potreros cultivados que se inundan durante la época de lluvias o terrenos que se drenan para actividades productivas. Presentan especies que indican uso ganadero o de perturbación humana como lo son Mimosa pigra (Lot-Helgueras y Novelo, 1990) y la gramínea exótica E. pyramidalis, que ha sido introducida en los humedales para transformarlos en potreros para ganadería (López Rosas et al, 2006) con graves consecuencias a la hidrología y la composición de especies. Algunos humedales pueden ser invadidos por especies introducidas o por especies nativas que se propagan y colonizan el humedal rápidamen-te convirtiéndose en problemáticas, como Phragmites spp.…”

Section: Moreno-casasola Et Alunclassified

“…Typha domingensis tolera un nivel mayor de salinidad (Glenn et al, 1995), más que otras especies de humedales herbáceos emergentes. También se debe tener en cuen-ta al banco de semillas del suelo y el banco de rizomas y estolones que favorece la regeneración de algunas especies sobre otras cuando la vegetación existente es removida (Ló-pez Rosas et al 2006;Osland, 2009) o por algún disturbio natural (Davis et al, 2004). La capacidad de crecimiento vegetativo de muchas de estas especies es un factor que probablemente favorece su dominancia.…”

Section: Moreno-casasola Et Alunclassified

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Composición florística, diversidad y ecología de humedales herbáceos emergentes en la planicie costera central de Veracruz, México

et al. 2010

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Los humedales tienen gran importancia por los recursos que se obtienen de ellos (pesca, madera, miel, cacería, plantas medicinales, entre otros) y los servicios ambientales que proporcionan, ya que son la base de las actividades pesqueras, ayudan en el control de inundaciones, en la fi ltración y limpieza del agua y en la protección de las zonas costeras, en el aporte de nutrientes a los cuerpos de agua, proporcionan refugio a los juveniles de especies acuáticas entre los más importantes (Costanza et al., 1998;Semlitsch y Bodie, 1998 Resumen: Se describe la composición fl orística, diversidad y ecología de humedales herbáceos de la planicie costera de Veracruz, entre Tecolutla y la cuenca baja del río Papaloapan, teniendo éstos últimos mayor diversidad, principalmente laguna Conejo. Once localidades fueron muestreadas, encontrándose 95 especies (41 familias y 74 géneros). La clasifi cación jerárquica Beta Flexible conformó nueve grupos; para cada uno se grafi có el régimen de inundación anual. La ordenación por componentes principales explicó el 47.81% de la variación mostrando un gradiente de riqueza de especies de los sitios de la zona norte y centro hacia los del Papaloapan, así como un gradiente de suelos Gleysol e Histosol (predominando histosoles en el Papaloapan). Existe gran variabilidad en la composición fl orística y dominancia de los humedales herbáceos emergentes y se considera que forman un complejo de riqueza de especies y combinaciones de monocotiledóneas y dicotiledóneas por lo que se sugiere usar el término popal-tular para denominarlos. Palabras clave: Cyperus giganteus, diversidad, hidroperíodo, Sagittaria lancifolia, popal Abstract: This work describes the fl oristic composition, ecology and diversity of marshes along the central coastal plain of Veracruz, from Tecolutla to the lowlands of the Papaloapan River, where more diverse sites were found (highest value in Conejo Lagoon). Eleven localities were sampled and 95 species were recorded (41 families and 74 genus). The classifi cation (hierarchic Beta Flexible) grouped species in nine types and annual hydroperiods were represented graphically for each type. PCA explained 47.81% of the variation and samples showed a gradient in species richness from northern and central sites towards the Papaloapan as well as a soil gradient from Gleysols to Histosols (predominating in Papaloapan). The great variability in species composition and dominance suggests that they form a landscape complex with different combinations of monocotyledons and dicotyledons which should be named popal-tular.

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Effects of experimental disturbances on a tropical freshwater marsh invaded by the African grass Echinochloa pyramidalis

Cited by 25 publications

References 30 publications

Effects of an African grass invasion on vegetation, soil and interstitial water characteristics in a tropical freshwater marsh in La Mancha, Veracruz (Mexico)

Effects of an African grass invasion on vegetation, soil and interstitial water characteristics in a tropical freshwater marsh in La Mancha, Veracruz (Mexico)

Soil water retention and carbon pools in tropical forested wetlands and marshes of the Gulf of Mexico

Composición florística, diversidad y ecología de humedales herbáceos emergentes en la planicie costera central de Veracruz, México

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