Hydrology
Effects on Recruitment
in Herbaceous Carolina Bays
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Our results indicate hydrology is the primary filter on recruitment and species distribution in the six herbaceous Carolina bays. |
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Each season, the distribution of inundated, fluctuating water, and exposed sediment areas within the bays influenced recruitment and wetland vegetation organization. |
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The fluctuating water zone within bays and the moist soil hydrology treatment were associated with greatest richness and recruitment from the propagule bank. Inundated areas within bays and the continuously flooded hydrology treatment converged on a less rich community of floating-leaved and emergent wetland plants. |
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Flashy bays (shallow basins) had broad zones of fluctuating hydrology, high species richness, recruitment from the propagule bank, and relatively unzoned vegetation and propagule bank. |
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Pond-like bays (steep basins) had narrow zones of fluctuating hydrology and zoned vegetation with an inner zone of floating-leaved and emergent aquatic plants. |
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General
Conclusions: Vegetation Organization in Isolated Wetlands with
Fluctuating Hydrology
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| In isolated wetlands, basin shape can combine with the amplitude and frequency of water level variation to determine seasonal water depth and width of the fluctuating water zone (A). Recruitment from the propagule bank and plant survival in response to the relative extent of unflooded, fluctuating, and inundated zones can determine vegetation composition and distribution. Vegetation and propagule banks in wetlands with steep basins and more stable hydrology have greater zonation and are patch-like (B). Propagule banks and vegetation in wetlands with shallow basins tend to be unzoned and more gradient-like. |
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