Life Sciences Commons^™

Forecasting Effects Of Sea‐Level Rise And Windstorms On Coastal And Inland Ecosystems, Charles S. Hopkinson, Ariel E. Lugo, Merryl Alber, Alan P. Covich, Skip J. Van Bloem

Publications

We identify a continental‐scale network of sites to evaluate how two aspects of climate change – sea‐level rise and intensification of windstorms – will influence the structure, function, and capacity of coastal and inland forest ecosystems to deliver ecosystem services (eg carbon sequestration, storm protection, pollution control, habitat support, food). The network consists of coastal wetland and inland forest sites across the US and is representative of continental‐level gradients of precipitation, temperature, vegetation, frequency of occurrence of major windstorms, value of insured properties, tidal range, watershed land use, and sediment availability. The network would provide real‐time measurements of the characteristics …

A Link Between Hurricane-Induced Tree Sprouting, High Stem Density And Short Canopy In Tropical Dry Forest, Skip Van Bloem, Peter G. Murphy, Ariel E. Lugo

Publications

The physiognomy of Caribbean dry forest is shorter, denser and contains a greater proportion of multi-stemmed trees than other neotropical dry forests. Our previous research, conducted after Hurricane Georges in 1998, has shown that dry forest trees sprout near the base following hurricane disturbance, even if the trees have not incurred structural damage. However, for these hurricane-induced sprouts to contribute to the physiognomy of the forest, they must grow and survive. We followed sprout dynamics and stem mortality on 1,407 stems from 1998, after Hurricane Georges, until 2005. The number of surviving sprouts and the proportion of sprouting stems decreased …

Wind Damage And Salinity Effects Of Hurricanes Katrina And Rita On Coastal Baldcypress Forests Of Louisiana, William Conner, Thomas W. Doyle, Richard H. Day, Ken W. Krauss, Christopher M. Swarzenski

Publications

The frequency of hurricane landfall in a given coastal stretch may play a more important role in the ecology of coastal forests than previously thought because of direct and indirect impacts of fallen trees and the introduction of salt water that lingers long after the storm passes. Findings show that surge events can inundate interior freshwater forests many miles from the coast and elevate soil salinities twofold to threefold. These elevated salinities may contribute to delayed mortality of certain tree species and set the stage for eventual forest decline and dieback.

Conservation And Use Of Coastal Wetland Forests In Louisiana, William Conner, Stephen P. Faulkner, Jim L. Chambers, Richard F. Keim, John W. Day, Emile S. Gardiner, Melinda S. Hughes, Sammy L. King, Kenneth W. Mcleod, Craig A. Miller, J Andrew Nyman, Gary P. Shaffer

Publications

The natural ecosystems of coastal Louisiana reflect the underlying geomorphic processes responsible for their formation. The majority of Louisiana's wetland forests are found in the lower reaches of the Mississipp Alluvial Valley and the Deltaic Plain. The sediments, water, and energy of the Mississippi River have shaped the Deltaic Plain as natural deltas have been formed and abandoned over the last 5,000 years (Coleman et al. 1998). During the regressive or constructional phase of the delta cycle, the system is dominated by freshwater riverine inputs with the formation of corresponding freshwater marshes and swamps, which then deteriorate during the marine-dominated …

Climate Change And Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation In Agroecosystems, Richard B. Thomas, Skip Van Bloem, William H. Schlesinger

Publications

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Pulsed Physical Events For Sustainability Of Louisiana Coastal Forested Wetlands, William Conner, J W. Day Jr, G P. Shaffer

Publications

A number of freshwater diversions from the Mississippi River into Louisiana’s coastal wetlands are currently in operation or in the planning stage. These diversions have multiple objectives including maintaining a desirable salinity gradient, restoring deteriorating wetlands, and enhancing fisheries. The extensive freshwater forested wetlands surrounding the western end of Lake Pontchartrain receive little or no sediment input and are currently deteriorating due to continuous flooding. Diverting nutrient-rich water through wetlands can lead to substantial nutrient removal and to enhanced accretion. The objective of this paper is to compare the impacts on freshwater wetland ecology, accretion, and water quality of several …

Towards Sustainable Management Of Louisiana's Coastal Wetland Forests: Problems, Contraints, And A New Beginning, William Conner, J L. Chambers, R F. Keim, S P. Faulkner, J W. Day, E S. Gardiner, M S. Hughes, S L. King, K W. Mcleod, C A. Miller, J A. Nyman, G P. Shaffer

Publications

Over 345,000 ha of forested swamps occur throughout the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain. Natural and anthropogenic changes in hydrology and geomorphology at local and landscape levels have reduced the productivity in many of these coastal wetland forests areas and have caused the complete loss of forest cover in some places. A summary and interpretation of the available
science, suggestions for policy change, and a multidisciplinary (multi-responsibility) approach were needed to address these issues [in the context of private land]. In response, the Louisiana Governor's office formed a Coastal Wetland Forest Conservation and Use Science Working Group (SWG) and an associated …

Bottomland Hardwood Management Demonstrations For South Carolina's Lowcountry Forest Conservation Project, William Conner, R Franklin, T Williams, G Kessler, A Nygaard

Publications

Southern bottomland hardwood forests occur on river floodplains of the southeastern United States, and ecological processes are driven by seasonal floodwaters from the river. Conservation and management of southeastern US coastal plain ecosystems is a priority in South Carolina’s Lowcountry Forest Conservation Project. The project is a partnership of Clemson University, Ducks Unlimited, the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Lowcountry Open Land Trust, South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, The Conservation Fund, and The Nature Conservancy. A goal of this project is to create and disseminate economically and ecologically viable methods for conservation-based bottomland hardwood management on private lands, including …

Structural Response Of Caribbean Dry Forests To Hurricane Winds: A Case Study From Guanica Forest, Puerto Rico, Skip Van Bloem, Ariel E. Lugo, Peter G. Murphy

Publications

Aim

Tropical dry forests in the Caribbean have an uniquely short, shrubby structure with a high proportion of multiple-stemmed trees compared to dry forests elsewhere in the Neotropics. Previous studies have shown that this structure can arise without the loss of main stems from cutting, grazing, or other human intervention. The Caribbean has a high frequency of hurricanes, so wind may also influence forest stature. Furthermore, these forests also tend to grow on soils with low amounts of available phosphorus, which may also influence structure. The objective of this study was to assess the role of high winds in structuring …

Conservation Of Louisiana's Coastal Wetland Forests, William Conner, Jim L. Chambers, Richard F. Keim, John W. Day Jr, Stephen P. Faulkner, Emile S. Gardiner, Melinda S. Hughes, Sammy L. King, Kenneth W. Mcleod, Craig A. Miller, J Andrew Nyman, Gary P. Shaffer

Publications

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Success Of Stump Sprouts In High-Graded Baldcypress-Water Tupelo Swamps In The Mississippi Delta, William Conner, Richard F. Keim, Jim L. Chambers, Melinda S. Hughes, Luben D. Dimov, Gary P. Shaffer, Emile S. Gardiner, John W. Day

Publications

Regeneration of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) and water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.) in swamps of the deltaic plain of the Mississippi River are of major importance for ecosystem sustainability and forest management in the context of regional hydrological changes. Water tupelo often forms prolific sprouts from cut stumps, and baldcypress is one of few conifers to produce stump sprouts capable of becoming full-grown trees. Previous studies have addressed early survival of baldcypress stump sprouts, but have not addressed the likelihood of sprouts becoming an important component of mature stands. We surveyed stands in southeastern Louisiana that were partially logged …

Structural Response Of Caribbean Dry Forests To Hurricane Winds: A Case Study From Guanica Forest, Puerto Rico, Skip Van Bloem, Ariel E. Lugo, Peter G. Murphy

Publications

Tropical dry forests in the Caribbean have an uniquely short, shrubby structure with a high proportion of multiple-stemmed trees compared to dry forests elsewhere in the Neotropics. Previous studies have shown that this structure can arise without the loss of main stems from cutting, grazing, or other human intervention. The Caribbean has a high frequency of hurricanes, so wind may also influence forest stature. Furthermore, these forests also tend to grow on soils with low amounts of available phosphorus, which may also influence structure. The objective of this study was to assess the role of high winds in structuring dry …

The Influence Of Hurricane Winds On Caribbean Dry Forest Structure And Nutrient Pools, Skip Van Bloem, Peter G. Murphy, Ariel E. Lugo, Rebecca Ostertag, Maria Riovera Costa, Ivelisse Ruiz Bernard, Sandra Molina Colon, Miguel Canals Mora

Publications

In 1998, we measured the effects of Hurricane Georges after it passed over long-term research sites in Puerto Rican dry forest. Our primary objectives were to quantify hurricane effects on forest structure, to compare effects in a large tract of forest versus a series of nearby forest fragments, to evaluate short-term response to hurricane disturbance in terms of mortality and sprouting, and to assess the ability of hurricanes to maintain forest structure. We sampled damage from 33 plots (1.3 ha) across a 3000-ha tract of forest as well as in 19 fragments. For stems with 2.5-cm minimum diameter, 1004 stems/ha …

Conservation, Protection And Utilization Of Louisiana's Coastal Wetland Forests, William Conner, Jim L. Chambers, John W. Day Jr, Stephen P. Faulkner, Emile S. Gardnier, Melinda S. Hughes, Richard F. Keim, Sammy L. King, Kenneth W. Mcleod, Craig A. Miller, John Andrew Nyman, Gary P. Shaffer

Publications

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Hurricane Winds On Caribbean Dry Forest Structure And Nutrient Pools, Skip Van Bloem, Ariel E. Lugo, Rebecca Ostertag, Maria Rivera Costa, Ivelisse Ruiz Bernard, Sandra Molina Colón, Miguel Canals Mora

Publications

In 1998, we measured the effects of Hurricane Georges after it passed over long‐term research sites in Puerto Rican dry forest. Our primary objectives were to quantify hurricane effects on forest structure, to compare effects in a large tract of forest versus a series of nearby forest fragments, to evaluate short‐term response to hurricane disturbance in terms of mortality and sprouting, and to assess the ability of hurricanes to maintain forest structure. We sampled damage from 33 plots (1.3 ha) across a 3000‐ha tract of forest as well as in 19 fragments. For stems with 2.5‐cm minimum diameter, 1004 stems/ha …

Recognizing And Overcoming Difficult Site Conditions For Afforestation Of Bottomland Hardwoods, William Conner, J A. Stanturf, E S. Gardiner, C J. Schweitzer, A W. Ezell

Publications

In the last decade, about 370,000 acres (150,000 ha) of economically marginal
farmland in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) have been restored to
bottomland hardwood forests (Stanturf and others 1998, King and Keeland 1999,
Schoenholtz and others 2001). Planting of this considerable acreage is due to several federal programs, such as the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), that assist landowners by financing afforestation (Figure 1). Unfortunately, these operational plantings have not performed as well as smaller plantings or research plots (Stanturf and others 2001a). For example, a recent survey of WRP plantings in westcentral Mississippi revealed that more than 90 …

Siviculture And Management Strategies Applicable To Southern Hardwoods, William Conner, Ray R. Hicks Jr, Robert C. Kellison, David Vanlear

Publications

Southern hardwood forests stretch from the Virginias to Florida and from the mid-Atlantic to Missouri. They can generally be grouped into upland forests and bottomland forests. The upland hardwood forests of the southern region are usually associated with the mountainous topography of the Appalachians and Ozarks. Bottomland hardwoods are found along the floodplains of larger rivers in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, including the Mississippi River floodplain. Southern hardwood forests are owned by a variety of governmental and private owners, but the vast majority of owners are nonindustrial private individuals. These owners seldom engage in intensive forest management, often …

Growth And Survival Of Baldcypress Planted In An Old Ricefield Of Coastal South Carolina, William Conner, L W. Inabinette, M Ozalp

Publications

Vast acreages of baldcypress [Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.] swampland in coastal South Carolina were cleared for rice production starting in the late 1600s. When rice cultivation ended in the late 1800s, many cultivated areas became
marshlands. Other fields failed to return to forest unless they were planted. In one such area, nine acres were planted with baldcypress in 1956 by MeadWestvaco near Walterboro, SC. Seedlings were planted on an 8- by 8-foot spacing. Beginning in November 1991, five 0.12-acre plots were established within the stand to monitor tree growth and survival and measured yearly. In addition to baldcypress, the stand …

Restoration Of Southern Ecosystems, William Conner, John A. Stanturf, Emile S. Gardiner, Kenneth Outcalt, James M. Guldin

Publications

Restoration of the myriad communities of bottomland hardwood and wetland forests and of the diverse communities of fire-dominated pine forests is the subject of intense interest in the Southern United States. Restoration practice is relatively advanced for bottomland hardwoods and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), and less so for swamps and shortleaf pine (P. echinata Mill.). Most bottomland hardwood restoration is taking place on private land, while restoration of swamps and shortleaf pine occurs mostly on public land. Both public and private landowners are involved in the restoration of longleaf pine. Proper matching of species to site is critical to …

Regional Forest Types - Tropical Dry Forests, Skip Van Bloem, Ariel E. Lugo, Peter G. Murphy

Publications

Tropical dry forests occur in nearly every tropical country. This forest type provides critical habitat for large mammals and migratory birds, and patches of dry forest can support a high proportion of endemic plant and animal species, as well as being highly valued for agricultural and production forestry uses. Consequently, conservation and understanding of these forests need emphasis, yet conservationists and scientists still frequently overlook this ecosystem.

Subtropical Dry Forest Trees With No Apparent Damage Sprout Following A Hurricane, Skip Van Bloem, Peter G. Murphy, Ariel E. Lugo

Publications

Hurricane Georges passed over mature dry forest near Guánica, Puerto Rico in September, 1998. The trees of the dense, short-statured Guánica Forest have a multi-stemmed structure unique to the West Indies in the neo-tropics, a characteristic that has been difficult to explain. Following the hurricane, we measured sprout development below breast height on 1407 stems to assess how response to hurricane disturbance may influence dry forest structure. Basal sprouting increased 8-14 fold after Hurricane Georges. Basal sprouting was found on al- most 68% of damaged stems and, notably, on about 32% of undamaged stems. Basal sprouting was found in all …

Baldcypress Restoration In A Saltwater Damaged Area Of South Carolina, William Conner, Mehmet Ozalp

Publications

Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) seed was collected in 1992 from nine different estuarine areas in the southeastern United States (Winyah Bay, SC, Ogeechee and Altmaha Rivers in GA, Loftin Creek, FL, Ochlockonee River FL, Mobile Bay, AL, West Pearl River, LA, Bayou LaBranche, LA, and Lake Chicot, LA) and planted in Clemson University's Hobcaw nursery in the spring of 1993. Germination ranged from a low of 16 percent for seed from FL to 58 percent for seed from NC. Seedlings were grown in the nursery for two growing seasons, lifted, and planted in an area killed by saltwater …

Forested Wetlands Of The Southern United States: A Bibliography, William Conner, Nicole L. Hill, Evander M. Whitehead, William S. Busbee, Marceau A. Ratard, Mehmet Ozalp, Darrell L. Smith, James P. Marshall

Publications

The term forested wetland covers a variety of forest types including mangroves, cypress/tupelo swamps, bottomland hardwoods, pocosins and Carolina bays, flatwoods, and mountain fens. These forests are dominated by woody species that have morphological features, physiological adaptations, and/or reproductive strategies enabling them to achieve maturity and reproduce in an environment where the soils within the rooting zone may be inundated or saturated for various periods during the growing season. Although alluvial floodplains occur along most streams of the United States, they are most extensive in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Gulf Coastal Plain, and Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Only about half of …

Leaf Litter Decomposition And Nutrient Dynamics In Four Southern Forested Floodplain Communities, William Conner, Terrell T. Baker Iii, B Graeme Lockaby, Calvin Meier, John A. Stanturf, Marianne K. Burke

Publications

Decomposition of site-specific litter mixtures was monitored for 100 wk in four Roodplaht communities: (i) a mixed oak community along the Cache River in central Arkansas, (ii) s sweetgum (Liquidambar styracijlua L.)-cherrybark oak (Quercus falcata var. pagodaefolia ELI.) community along Iatt Creek in central Louisiana, (iii) a sweetgum-swamp tupelo [Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora (Walt.) Sarg.] community, and (iv) a laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia Michx.) commnnity
along the Coosawhatchie River in southeastern South Carolina. Soil temperature, hydroperiod, and litter quality (C:N, C:P, N:P, fignin: N) were used to interpret differences in the rates of mass loss and …

Fine Root Productivity And Dynamics On A Forested Floodplain In South Carolina, William Conner, Terrell Baker, B. Graeme Lockaby, John A. Stanturf, Marianne K. Burke

Publications

The highly dynamic, fine-root component of forested wetland ecosystems has received inadequate attention in the literature. Characterizing fine root dynamics is a challenging endeavor in any system, but the difficulties are particularly evident in forested floodplains where frequent hydrologic fluctuations directly influence fine root dynamics. Fine root (< 3mm) biomass, production, and turnover were estimated for three soils exhibiting different drainage patterns within a mixed-oak community on the Coosawhatchie River floodplain, Jasper County, SC. Within a 45-cm deep vertical profile, 74% of total fine root biomass was restricted to the upper 15 cm of the soil surface. Fine root biomass decreased as the soil became less well-drained (e.g., fine root biomass in well-drained soil > intermediately drained soil > poorly drained soil). Fine root productivity was measured for one year using minirhizotrons and in-situ screens. Both methods suggested higher fine root production in better drained soils but showed frequent fluctuations in fine root growth and mortality, suggesting the need for frequent sampling at short intervals (e.g., monthly) to …

Restoration Methods For Deepwater Swamps, William Conner, Kenneth W. Mcleod, Ellen Colodney

Publications

Planting in deepwater swamp areas is difficult and time consuming, and nursery-grown seedlings are often not suited for such conditions. Baldcypress [Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.], water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.), swamp blackgum [N. sylvatica var. biflora (Walt.) Sarg.], and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) have been planted at various flooded sites in South Carolina and Louisiana. One of the most effective means of planting these species in flooded situations was to heavily prune the lateral roots, grasp the seedling at the root collar, and push it into the soil. Excellent results have been obtained with baldcypress, …

Litter Decomposition, William Conner, Terrell T. Baker Iii, B. Graeme Lockaby, John A. Stanturf, Marianne K. Burke

Publications

No abstract provided.

Root Growth, William Conner, Terrell T. Baker Iii, B. Graeme Lockaby, Marianne K. Burke, John A. Stanturf

Publications

No abstract provided.

Restoration Of A Severely Impacted Riparian Wetland System - The Pen Branch Project, William Conner, Christopher Barton, Eric A. Nelson, Randall K. Kolka, Kenneth W. Mcleod, Michelle Lakly, Douglas Martin, John Wiggington, Carl Trettin, Joe Wisniewski

Publications

The Savannah River Swamp is a 3020 ha forested wetland on the floodplain of the Savannah River and is located on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, SC (Fig. 1). Historically the swamp consisted of
approximately 50% baldcypress-water tupelo stands, 40% mixed bottomland hardwood stands, and 10% shrub, marsh, and open water. Tributeries of the river were typical of Southeastern bottomland hardwood forests. The hydrology was controlled by flow from four creeks that drain into the swamp and by flooding of the Savannah River. Upstream dams on the Savannah River have caused some alteration of the …

The Use Of Tree Shelters In Restoring Forest Species To A Floodplain Delta: 5-Year Results, William Conner, L Wayne Inabinette, Evaden F. Brantley

Publications

Without herbivory control, natural seed sources, and seasonal flood events, recovery of the Pen branch delta in South Carolina to former conditions (prior to thermal discharge) may take many years. To assess the recovery process, seedlings of baldcypress (TuxoLtiurn distichum), water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), swamp blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora), and green ash (Fraxinuspennsylucmicn) were planted in four areas of the delta in 1994. One-half of the seedlings were protected using tree shelters 1.5 m tall. Heights of seedlings were taken after planting and at the end of each growing season from 1994 to 1998. Survival at the end of …