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Evaluating the Functional Response of Isolated Cypress Domes to Groundwater Alteration in West-Central Florida

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Evaluating the Functional Response of Isolated Cypress Domes to Groundwater Alteration in West-Central Florida Evaluating the functional response of isolated cypress domes to groundwater alteration in west-central Florida by Megan Kristine Bartholomew A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama May 6, 2017 Copyright 2017 by Megan Bartholomew Approved by Christopher Anderson, Chair, Professor of Wetland Ecology Robert Boyd, Professor of Plant Ecology Jacob Berkowitz, Research Soil Scientist Abstract The hydrology of a wetland is the single most important determinant of its function and slight alterations can lead to significant changes in plant communities and biogeochemistry within the wetland. Therefore, understanding the influence of hydrology on vegetative and soil processes is pivotal to restoration efforts. This study investigated how hydrologic alteration and recovery influenced wetland vegetation and soil processes in Starkey Wilderness Park (SWP), a well-field in west-central Florida. Vegetation responses to groundwater alterations were observed using long term species and hydrologic data collected from SWP. The results from the vegetation study suggest that hydrologic recovery has restored vegetative functions and measures, such as species richness and hydrophytic assemblages, in a relatively short (5-7 year) period. However, differences in species composition and community variation persist in wetlands of various degrees of hydrologic alterations. A field study was also conducted to determine how hydrologic alterations continue to affect wetland decomposition rates and other soil processes. After eight years of hydrologic recovery, altered wetlands experienced faster decomposition than reference wetlands and rates seemed to be linked to differences in both inundation and percent soil organic matter. The findings from this study suggest functional restoration of vegetation and soils should be determined on an individual wetland basis and over longer periods (>5 years). In some cases, overall restoration goals may need to be reassessed as ecosystem development progresses. ii Acknowledgments Funding for this project was provided by the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program within the United States Army Corps of Engineers through a cooperative agreement (W912HZ-14-0026) and additional support was provided by the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban Rural Interface. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my committee, Dr. Christopher J. Anderson, Dr. Robert S. Boyd, and Dr. Jacob F. Berkowitz, for their patience, guidance, and support. I would also like to thank Christopher Shea and Tampa Bay Water as well as Michael Hancock and the Southwest Florida Water Management District for providing project support and access to the historical data that was used in this study. I had so much help doing field and lab work and would be remise if I did not mention and thank Jonathan Muller, Rasika Ramesh, Adam Trautwig, Matthew Gonnerman, Robin Governo and the park staff at J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park. Finally, I need to express my sincere appreciation for the love and support I received from my family, especially my parents Edmund and Kay Bartholomew, and friends throughout this endeavor. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Illustrations ............................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................1 References ................................................................................................................8 Chapter 2: Vegetation response to groundwater pumping and hydrologic recovery in isolated cypress domes of west-central Florida .................................................................12 Introduction ...........................................................................................................13 Methods..................................................................................................................15 Results ....................................................................................................................23 Discussion ..............................................................................................................28 Conclusion .............................................................................................................34 References ..............................................................................................................36 Chapter 3: Impacts of historic groundwater alteration and recovery on wetland soil functions in isolated cypress domes of west-central Florida .............................................55 Introduction ............................................................................................................56 Methods..................................................................................................................59 Results ....................................................................................................................66 Discussion ..............................................................................................................68 iv Conclusion .............................................................................................................74 References ..............................................................................................................75 Appendix ................................................................................................................91 v List of Tables Table 2.1 ...........................................................................................................................40 Table 2.2 ...........................................................................................................................41 Table 2.3 ...........................................................................................................................42 Table 2.4 ...........................................................................................................................43 Table 3.1 ............................................................................................................................82 Table 3.2 ............................................................................................................................83 Table 3.3 ............................................................................................................................84 vi List of Figures Figure 2.1 ...........................................................................................................................44 Figure 2.2 ...........................................................................................................................45 Figure 2.3 ...........................................................................................................................46 Figure 2.4 ...........................................................................................................................47 Figure 2.5 ...........................................................................................................................48 Figure 2.6 ...........................................................................................................................49 Figure 2.7 ...........................................................................................................................50 Figure 2.8 ...........................................................................................................................51 Figure 2.9 ...........................................................................................................................52 Figure 2.10 .........................................................................................................................53 Figure 2.11 .........................................................................................................................54 Figure 3.1 ...........................................................................................................................85 Figure 3.2 ...........................................................................................................................86 Figure 3.3 ...........................................................................................................................87 Figure 3.4 ...........................................................................................................................88 Figure 3.5 ...........................................................................................................................89 Figure 3.6 .............................................................................................................................9 vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION WETLAND DEFINITION, FUNCTIONS, AND SERVICES Wetlands which are defined as ecosystems that depend on constant or recurrent, shallow inundation or saturation
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