DOCSLIB.ORG

Five Decades of Wetland Soil Development of a Constructed Tidal Salt Marsh, North Carolina, USA

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Five Decades of Wetland Soil Development of a Constructed Tidal Salt Marsh, North Carolina, USA Five Decades of Wetland Soil Development of a Constructed Tidal Salt Marsh, North Carolina, USA Aaron Noll, Courtney Mobilian, Christopher Craft Ecological Restoration, Volume 37, Number 3, September 2019, pp. 163-170 (Article) Published by University of Wisconsin Press For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/731195 Access provided at 20 Aug 2019 15:22 GMT from Indiana University Libraries RESEARCH ARTICLE Five Decades of Wetland Soil Development of a Constructed Tidal Salt Marsh, North Carolina, USA Aaron Noll, Courtney Mobilian, and Christopher Craft ABSTRACT We periodically measured soil properties (bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus) in a tidal salt marsh constructed in 1970 over the past five decades (1984, 1995, 1998, 2017) to identify trajectories of soil formation over time. Bulk density was greater in surface (0–10 cm) than subsurface (10–30 cm) soils and decreased with time at a similar rate in both depths. Percent organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and total phosphorus (P) increased with time, with concentrations in surface soils increasing three times faster than subsurface soils. Surface C and N pools (g/m2, 0–10 cm) exhibited asymptotic trajectories with time, with rapid accumulation in the first two decades that began to equilibrate after 25 years, while subsurface pools of C and N continued to increase in a linear manner. Soil P pools did not exhibit a significant trend related to marsh age. Soil N:P increased in both depths over time, suggesting gradual relaxation of N-limitation of these systems. Our findings can help restoration ecologists identify soil properties, including bulk density, C, N, and C:N suitable for gauging restoration success and better estimate the time frame necessary for recovery of soil-based ecosystem services. Keywords: constructed tidal marsh, soil carbon, soil nitrogen, salt marsh restoration Restoration Recap • • Tidal salt marshes planted with Spartina alterniflora con- • Constructed and restored tidal salt marshes will likely tinue to sequester organic carbon and nitrogen nearly sequester C and N for the foreseeable future assuming five decades after establishment. marshes can accrete sufficient mineral sediment and soil • During the first 25 years, accumulation of C and N was organic matter to keep pace with sea level rise, and avoid confined to surface (0–10 cm) soils after which C and N human activities such as dredging and boat traffic that enrichment shifted to subsurface (10–30 cm) soils. may increase lateral erosion. idal marshes are valued for their ability to provide destroyed. However, it may take years for restored wetlands Timportant ecosystem services including shoreline sta- to re-establish some functions of natural systems, particu- bilization, water quality improvement, biodiversity, and larly those functions related to soils (Craft et al. 2003). Tidal carbon sequestration (Boesch and Turner 1984, Mcleod marsh and other wetland soils provide environmental con- et al. 2011, Shepard et al. 2011). However, they have been ditions that facilitate biogeochemical and nutrient cycling. subject to widespread degradation and loss stemming from Some unique functions of wetland soils that are distinct coastal development, hydrologic alterations, and sea level from terrestrial soils include high rates of denitrification, rise (Pendleton et al. 2012, Craft et al. 2009, Neubauer 2013, nutrient burial from sedimentation, and accelerated rates Vincent et al. 2013). of organic matter and carbon sequestration. Accumulation Restoration and creation of tidal marshes are used to of organic matter is essential to restoring other ecosystem replace ecosystem services lost when they are degraded or services such as water quality improvement (e.g., denitrifi- cation), providing organic C to support heterotrophic food webs, production of economically valuable wildlife (LaSalle Ecological Restoration Vol. 37, No. 3, 2019 et al. 1991, Craft et al. 2003) and building elevation in the ISSN 1522-4740 E-ISSN 1543-4079 ©2019 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. September 2019 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION 37:3 • 163 face of rising sea level (Nyman et al. 2006, Chmura and Methods Hung 2004, Turner et al. 2002, Hatton et al. 1983). Wetland soil development is a slow but critical process Site Description to restoring wetland functions and re-establishing lost We measured soil properties in a Spartina alterniflora ecosystem services. In addition to the slow pace of soil Loisel tidal salt marsh (34°03'49.15" N, 77°55'40.25" W), development, successful restoration of wetland soils can Snow’s Cut, that was constructed in 1970 on a dredge spoil be challenging due to factors such as altered hydrology island on the Cape Fear River, NC. The U.S. Army Corps and degraded initial substrate, including dredged material of Engineers funded construction of the marsh to dem- that contains little organic matter or nitrogen (Cornell et al. onstrate the use of wetland vegetation to stabilize dredge 2007), terrestrial soils where surface (O, A) horizons are spoil material (Woodhouse and Seneca 1974). Marsh con- excavated to achieve target elevations (Craft et al. 2002), struction was accomplished by grading the site to intertidal and agricultural soils with little soil organic matter (Marton elevation, then planting Spartina alternifloraat elevations et al. 2014). In particular, sufficient N and C are needed between mean sea level and mean high water. The marsh to sustain plant productivity and support biogeochemical is 0.8 hectares in size, occupying a riverine geomorphic processes such as decomposition and denitrification in position with a tidal range of approximately 1.2 meters and these N limited systems. Craft et al. (2003) estimated that floodwater salinity ranging from 7–10 parts per thousand 100 g N/m2 and 1000 g C/m2 are needed to achieve full or (Craft et al. 1988). The site is located on the eastern side of complete restoration of these functions and accumulation the island and has served as the focus of numerous studies of such sizable pools may require decades. on ecosystem development of restored tidal marshes (Craft The chronosequence (space for time) approach has been et al. 1988, 1999, 2003, Craft and Sacco 2003, Zheng et al. widely used to assess successional trajectories in restored 2004, Cornell et al. 2007). wetlands and wetland soil, but its explanatory power can be limited by variation due to factors other than ecosystem Sample Collection and Analysis age. For example, it may be difficult to completely match Soils were collected in 1984, 1995, and 1998 and findings hydroperiod (depth, duration, and frequency of inunda- were published in Craft et al. (1988), (1999), and (2003), tion), salinity, vegetation type, or geomorphic position respectively. Soils were sampled again in 2017 using the among restored sites of differing ages; though for tidal identical sampling design, field and lab protocols, and wetlands, tidal hydroperiod and vegetation type (Spartina analyses that were used in previous work at the site. Ten alterniflora) can be readily matched when restoring salt soil cores were collected in total. Five cores were randomly marshes. However, the efficacy of the chronosequence collected from the streamside edge and five cores were col- approach (i.e., different aged sites can be sampled at one lected from the marsh interior. Soil cores were sectioned time) makes it the primary method for evaluating succes- into 0–10 cm and 10–30 cm subsamples in the field, then sion and ecosystem development over time for natural and returned to the lab and air-dried, weighed, ground, and restored ecosystems (Crocker and Major 1955, Craft et al. sieved through a 2-mm mesh diameter screen. Screening 2003, Ballantine and Schneider 2009, Yang and Guo 2018). removed large roots but included fine roots, detritus and An alternative approach is to sample the same site over soil organic matter. time but this approach is seldom used (Craft et al. 2002, Measured soil properties included bulk density, organic He et al. 2016) because of the long time intervals required carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Bulk density between sampling. was calculated by weighing air-dried cores of a known The goal of this study is to evaluate ecosystem develop- volume and applying a moisture correction factor deter- ment of a tidal wetland constructed and planted nearly mined from subsamples oven-dried at 105°C (Blake and five decades ago. We tracked changes in soil properties at Hartge 1986). Total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen periodic intervals (1984, 1995, 1998, 2017) since its con- (N) were measured using a Perkin-Elmer CHN analyzer struction in 1970. The work is important because 1) soil (Perkin-Elmer, Norwalk, CT, USA). Total P concentration development is a slow process and decades may pass before was determined using the HNO3-HClO4 soil digestion soils and soil-based functions are completely restored, and method followed by colorimetric analysis (Sommers and 2) nearly all studies of soil change following wetland resto- Nelson 1972). Estuarine sediment (NIST standard no. ration are based on the chronosequence approach and its 1646a) was used as a baseline standard in P digestions, inherent variability in hydrology, salinity, nutrients, land yielding a recovery rate of 94%. An in-house salt marsh use history and other abiotic factors among sites, rather standard was used for C and N, returning recovery rates than the repeated measures approach used here. of 101% and 97% for C and N, respectively. Nutrient (C, N, P) pools (g/m2) in the 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths were calculated using bulk density and C, N, and P concentra- tions. Linear regressions of soil properties versus marsh 164 • September 2019 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION 37:3 Figure 1. Linear regressions of (a) Bulk Density, (b) % Organic C, (c) % N, and (d) Total P (μg/g) as a function of marsh age. Each data point represents n = 10.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Maritime Swamp Forest (Typic Subtype)
    MARITIME SWAMP FOREST (TYPIC SUBTYPE) Concept: Maritime Swamp Forests are wetland forests of barrier islands and comparable coastal spits and back-barrier islands, dominated by tall trees of various species. The Typic Subtype includes most examples, which are not dominated by Acer, Nyssa, or Fraxinus, not by Taxodium distichum. Canopy dominants are quite variable among the few examples. Distinguishing Features: Maritime Shrub Swamps are distinguished from other barrier island wetlands by dominance by tree species of (at least potentially) large stature. The Typic Subtype is dominated by combinations of Nyssa, Fraxinus, Liquidambar, Acer, or Quercus nigra, rather than by Taxodium or Salix. Maritime Shrub Swamps are dominated by tall shrubs or small trees, particularly Salix, Persea, or wetland Cornus. Some portions of Maritime Evergreen Forest are marginally wet, but such areas are distinguished by the characteristic canopy dominants of that type, such as Quercus virginiana, Quercus hemisphaerica, or Pinus taeda. The lower strata also are distinctive, with wetland species occurring in Maritime Swamp Forest; however, some species, such as Morella cerifera, may occur in both. Synonyms: Acer rubrum - Nyssa biflora - (Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus sp.) Maritime Swamp Forest (CEGL004082). Ecological Systems: Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest (CES203.261). Sites: Maritime Swamp Forests occur on barrier islands and comparable spits, in well-protected dune swales, edges of dune ridges, and on flats adjacent to freshwater sounds. Soils: Soils are wet sands or mucky sands, most often mapped as Duckston (Typic Psammaquent) or Conaby (Histic Humaquept). Hydrology: Most Maritime Swamp Forests have shallow seasonal standing water and nearly permanently saturated soils. Some may rarely be flooded by salt water during severe storms, but areas that are severely or repeatedly flooded do not recover to swamp forest.
    [Show full text]
  • PESHTIGO RIVER DELTA Property Owner
    NORTHEAST - 10 PESHTIGO RIVER DELTA WETLAND TYPES Drew Feldkirchner Floodplain forest, lowland hardwood, swamp, sedge meadow, marsh, shrub carr ECOLOGY & SIGNIFICANCE supports cordgrass, marsh fern, sensitive fern, northern tickseed sunflower, spotted joe-pye weed, orange This Wetland Gem site comprises a very large coastal • jewelweed, turtlehead, marsh cinquefoil, blue skullcap wetland complex along the northwest shore of Green Bay and marsh bellflower. Shrub carr habitat is dominated three miles southeast of the city of Peshtigo. The wetland by slender willow; other shrub species include alder, complex extends upstream along the Peshtigo River for MARINETTE COUNTY red osier dogwood and white meadowsweet. Floodplain two miles from its mouth. This site is significant because forest habitats are dominated by silver maple and green of its size, the diversity of wetland community types ash. Wetlands of the Peshtigo River Delta support several present, and the overall good condition of the vegetation. - rare plant species including few-flowered spikerush, The complexity of the site – including abandoned oxbow variegated horsetail and northern wild raisin. lakes and a series of sloughs and lagoons within the river delta – offers excellent habitat for waterfowl. A number This Wetland Gem provides extensive, diverse and high of rare animals and plants have been documented using quality wetland habitat for many species of waterfowl, these wetlands. The area supports a variety of recreational herons, gulls, terns and shorebirds and is an important uses, such as hunting, fishing, trapping and boating. The staging, nesting and stopover site for many migratory Peshtigo River Delta has been described as the most birds. Rare and interesting bird species documented at diverse and least disturbed wetland complex on the west the site include red-shouldered hawk, black tern, yellow shore of Green Bay.
    [Show full text]
  • Tidal Wetland Gross Primary Production Across the Continental
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Tidal Wetland Gross Primary Production Across 10.1029/2019GB006349 the Continental United States, 2000–2019 Special Section: R. A. Feagin1 , I. Forbrich2 , T. P. Huff1, J. G. Barr3, J. Ruiz‐Plancarte4 , J. D. Fuentes4 , Carbon cycling in tidal wet- 4 5 5 6 7 R. G. Najjar , R. Vargas , A. Vázquez‐Lule , L. Windham‐Myers , K. D. Kroeger , lands and estuaries of the con- 8 1 9 8 8 2 tiguous United States E. J. Ward , G. W. Moore , M. Leclerc , K. W. Krauss , C. L. Stagg , M. Alber , S. H. Knox10 , K. V. R. Schäfer11, T. S. Bianchi12 , J. A. Hutchings13 , H. Nahrawi9,14 , 1 1 1 1,15 6 16 Key Points: A. Noormets , B. Mitra , A. Jaimes , A. L. Hinson , B. Bergamaschi , J. S. King , and 17 • We created the Blue Carbon (BC) G. Miao model, which mapped the Gross Primary Production (GPP) of all 1Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, 2Marine Biological tidal wetlands within the Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA, 3Elder Research, Charlottesville, VA, USA, 4Department of Meteorology and continental United States 5 • Atmospheric Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, The BC model provides maps of tidal 6 7 wetland GPP at sub‐250 m scales University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA, United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, USA, United States 8 and at 16‐day intervals for the years Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA, USA, United States Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 2000‐2019 Lafayette, LA, USA, 9Atmospheric Biogeosciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, 10Department of Geography, • 2 The average daily GPP per m was University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, USA, 11Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, 4.32 ± 2.45 g C/m2/day, and the total NJ, USA, 12Departmet of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 13Department of Earth and annual GPP for the continental 14 United States was 39.65 ± 0.89 Tg Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Our Wonderful Wetlands Publication
    Exploring Our Wonderful Wetlands Student Publication Grades 4–7 Dear Wetland Students: Are you ready to explore our wonderful wetlands? We hope so! To help you learn about several types of wetlands in our area, we are taking you on a series of explorations. As you move through the publication, be sure to test your wetland wit and write about wetlands before moving on to the next exploration. By exploring our wonderful wetlands, we hope that you will appreciate where you live and encourage others to help protect our precious natural resources. Let’s begin our exploration now! Southwest Florida Water Management District Exploring Our Wonderful Wetlands Exploration 1 Wading Into Our Wetlands ................................................Page 3 Exploration 2 Searching Our Saltwater Wetlands .................................Page 5 Exploration 3 Finding Out About Our Freshwater Wetlands .............Page 7 Exploration 4 Discovering What Wetlands Do .................................... Page 10 Exploration 5 Becoming Protectors of Our Wetlands ........................Page 14 Wetlands Activities .............................................................Page 17 Websites ................................................................................Page 20 Visit the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s website at WaterMatters.org. Exploration 1 Wading Into Our Wetlands What exactly is a wetland? The scientific and legal definitions of wetlands differ. In 1984, when the Florida Legislature passed a Wetlands Protection Act, they decided to use a plant list containing plants usually found in wetlands. We are very fortunate to have a lot of wetlands in Florida. In fact, Florida has the third largest wetland acreage in the United States. The term wetlands includes a wide variety of aquatic habitats. Wetland ecosystems include swamps, marshes, wet meadows, bogs and fens. Essentially, wetlands are transitional areas between dry uplands and aquatic systems such as lakes, rivers or oceans.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Wetland Trends in the Narragansett Bay Estuary During the 20Th Century
    u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service Co l\Ietland Trends In the Narragansett Bay Estuary During the 20th Century Coastal Wetland Trends in the Narragansett Bay Estuary During the 20th Century November 2004 A National Wetlands Inventory Cooperative Interagency Report Coastal Wetland Trends in the Narragansett Bay Estuary During the 20th Century Ralph W. Tiner1, Irene J. Huber2, Todd Nuerminger2, and Aimée L. Mandeville3 1U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory Program Northeast Region 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035 2Natural Resources Assessment Group Department of Plant and Soil Sciences University of Massachusetts Stockbridge Hall Amherst, MA 01003 3Department of Natural Resources Science Environmental Data Center University of Rhode Island 1 Greenhouse Road, Room 105 Kingston, RI 02881 November 2004 National Wetlands Inventory Cooperative Interagency Report between U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management This report should be cited as: Tiner, R.W., I.J. Huber, T. Nuerminger, and A.L. Mandeville. 2004. Coastal Wetland Trends in the Narragansett Bay Estuary During the 20th Century. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, Hadley, MA. In cooperation with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the University of Rhode Island. National Wetlands Inventory Cooperative Interagency Report. 37 pp. plus appendices. Table of Contents Page Introduction 1 Study Area 1 Methods 5 Data Compilation 5 Geospatial Database Construction and GIS Analysis 8 Results 9 Baywide 1996 Status 9 Coastal Wetlands and Waters 9 500-foot Buffer Zone 9 Baywide Trends 1951/2 to 1996 15 Coastal Wetland Trends 15 500-foot Buffer Zone Around Coastal Wetlands 15 Trends for Pilot Study Areas 25 Conclusions 35 Acknowledgments 36 References 37 Appendices A.
    [Show full text]
  • A Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Hudson River
    PROTECTING THE PATHWAYS: A Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Hudson River Estuary Tidal Wetlands PROTECTING THE PATHWAYS: A Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Hudson River Estuary Tidal Wetlands Scenic Hudson, May 2016 Nava Tabak & Dr. Sacha Spector Research and planning partners: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies The Nature Conservancy Hudsonia Ltd. Warren Pinnacle Consulting, Inc. Cover Photo: Robert Rodriguez, Jr. Robert Rodriguez, Jr. Robert Rodriguez, TIDAL WETLAND: KEYSTONE HABITATS OF THE HUDSON The Hudson River Estuary (HRE), stretching approximately 150 miles from the Battery in Manhattan to the Federal Dam in Troy, is a region of rich biological resources. At the heart of this estuarine ecosystem are approximately 7,000 acres of intertidal wetlands—keystone elements in the Hudson’s aquatic and ter- restrial ecology. Encompassing both brackish and freshwater tidal habitats such as mud and sand flats, emergent broad-leaf and graminoid-dominated marshes, and shrub and tree swamps, the Hudson’s tidal wetlands are fundamentally important to support- ing the species and functions of the estuary. They serve as feed- ing, nursery and refuge areas for the nearly 200 species of fish known from the HRE, including 11 migratory species of sturgeon, herring, bass, and eels that journey between the Hudson and the Erik Kiviat/Hudsonia Atlantic. A myriad of migrating and overwintering shorebirds and Golden-club (orontium aquaticum) waterfowl also depend on these rich tidal habitats. Many species of rare plants and animals, such as golden-club and the secretive least bittern, are specialist occupants of these wetlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Salt Marsh Monitoring by The
    SaltSalt MarshMarsh MonitoringMonitoring byby thethe U.S.U.S. FishFish && WildlifeWildlife ServiceService’’ss NortheastNortheast RegionRegion Ralph Tiner Regional Wetland Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Northeast Region February 2010 TypesTypes ofof MonitoringMonitoring RemotelyRemotely sensedsensed MonitoringMonitoring Area and type changes (e.g., trends analysis) Can cover large or small areas OnOn--thethe--groundground MonitoringMonitoring Addressing processes (accretion, erosion, subsidence, salt balance, etc.) Analyzing vegetation and soil changes Plot analysis Reference wetlands Evaluating wildlife habitat RemotelyRemotely SensedSensed MonitoringMonitoring NWINWI usesuses aerialaerial imageryimagery toto tracktrack wetlandwetland changeschanges inin wetlandwetland typetype WetlandWetland StatusStatus && TrendsTrends StudiesStudies == aa typetype ofof monitoringmonitoring For large geographic areas Statistical Sampling – analyze changes in 4-square mile plots; generate estimates For small areas Area-based Analysis –analyze complete area for changes over time RegionRegion vsvs LocalLocal ReportsReports CanfieldCanfield Cove,Cove, CTCT 19741974 20042004 Canfield Island Cove 60 50 40 s e 30 Acr 20 10 0 1974 1981 1986 1990 1995 2000 2004 Low Marsh High Marsh Flat ConsiderationsConsiderations forfor SiteSite--specificspecific MonitoringMonitoring SpecialSpecial aerialaerial imageryimagery LowLow tidetide PeakPeak ofof growinggrowing seasonseason NormalNormal issuesissues re:re: qualityquality (e.g.,(e.g.,
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology of Freshwater and Estuarine Wetlands: an Introduction
    ONE Ecology of Freshwater and Estuarine Wetlands: An Introduction RebeCCA R. SHARITZ, DAROLD P. BATZER, and STeveN C. PENNINGS WHAT IS A WETLAND? WHY ARE WETLANDS IMPORTANT? CHARACTERISTicS OF SeLecTED WETLANDS Wetlands with Predominantly Precipitation Inputs Wetlands with Predominately Groundwater Inputs Wetlands with Predominately Surface Water Inputs WETLAND LOSS AND DeGRADATION WHAT THIS BOOK COVERS What Is a Wetland? The study of wetland ecology can entail an issue that rarely Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and needs consideration by terrestrial or aquatic ecologists: the aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or need to define the habitat. What exactly constitutes a wet- near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. land may not always be clear. Thus, it seems appropriate Wetlands must have one or more of the following three to begin by defining the wordwetland . The Oxford English attributes: (1) at least periodically, the land supports predominately hydrophytes; (2) the substrate is pre- Dictionary says, “Wetland (F. wet a. + land sb.)— an area of dominantly undrained hydric soil; and (3) the substrate is land that is usually saturated with water, often a marsh or nonsoil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow swamp.” While covering the basic pairing of the words wet water at some time during the growing season of each year. and land, this definition is rather ambiguous. Does “usu- ally saturated” mean at least half of the time? That would This USFWS definition emphasizes the importance of omit many seasonally flooded habitats that most ecolo- hydrology, soils, and vegetation, which you will see is a gists would consider wetlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Riparian Systems
    Riparian Systems January 2007 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet Number 45 Introduction Riparian areas are transitional zones between terres- trial and aquatic systems exhibiting characteristics of both systems. They perform vital ecological functions linking terrestrial and aquatic systems within water- sheds. These functions include protecting aquatic eco- systems by removing sediments from surface runoff, decreasing flooding, maintaining appropriate water conditions for aquatic life, and providing organic ma- terial vital for productivity and structure of aquatic ecosystems. They also provide excellent wildlife hab- itat, offering not only a water source, but food and shelter, as well. NRCS Soils in riparian areas differ from soils in upland areas because they are formed from sediments with differ- ent textures and subjected to fluctuating water levels and degrees of wetness. These sediments are rich in nutrients and organic matter which allow the soils to retain large amounts of moisture, affecting the growth and diversity of the plant communities. Riparian areas typically are vegetated with lush growths of grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees that are tolerant of periodic flooding. In some regions (Great Plains), however, trees may not be part of the his- toric riparian community. Areas with saline soils or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service heavy, nearly-anaerobic soils (wet meadow environ- ments and high elevations) also are dominated by her- baceous vegetation. In intermittent waterways, the ri- parian area may be confined to the stream channel. Threats to riparian areas have come from many sourc- es. Riparian forests and bottomlands are fertile and valued farmland and rangeland, as well as prime wa- ter-front property desired by developers.
    [Show full text]
  • A Primer on Limnology, Second Edition
    BIOLOGICAL PHYSICAL lake zones formation food webs variability primary producers light chlorophyll density stratification algal succession watersheds consumers and decomposers CHEMICAL general lake chemistry trophic status eutrophication dissolved oxygen nutrients ecoregions biological differences The following overview is taken from LAKE ECOLOGY OVERVIEW (Chapter 1, Horne, A.J. and C.R. Goldman. 1994. Limnology. 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill Co., New York, New York, USA.) Limnology is the study of fresh or saline waters contained within continental boundaries. Limnology and the closely related science of oceanography together cover all aquatic ecosystems. Although many limnologists are freshwater ecologists, physical, chemical, and engineering limnologists all participate in this branch of science. Limnology covers lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams, rivers, wetlands, and estuaries, while oceanography covers the open sea. Limnology evolved into a distinct science only in the past two centuries, when improvements in microscopes, the invention of the silk plankton net, and improvements in the thermometer combined to show that lakes are complex ecological systems with distinct structures. Today, limnology plays a major role in water use and distribution as well as in wildlife habitat protection. Limnologists work on lake and reservoir management, water pollution control, and stream and river protection, artificial wetland construction, and fish and wildlife enhancement. An important goal of education in limnology is to increase the number of people who, although not full-time limnologists, can understand and apply its general concepts to a broad range of related disciplines. A primary goal of Water on the Web is to use these beautiful aquatic ecosystems to assist in the teaching of core physical, chemical, biological, and mathematical principles, as well as modern computer technology, while also improving our students' general understanding of water - the most fundamental substance necessary for sustaining life on our planet.
    [Show full text]
  • Homeowners Guide to Protecting Ponds and Wetlands
    Homeowners Guide to Protecting Ponds and Wetlands Weston has several small ponds throughout town. Most of these ponds were originally man-made either by building a dam (i.e. Hobbs Pond and College Pond) or by dredging an area along a stream. Weston’s ponds provide habitat for numerous birds, fish, turtles, frogs, and mammals. Because these ponds are often shallow, controlling aquatic plants from over-taking them can be a challenge. Several Weston homeowners have hired professionals to prepare and implement pond management programs. These programs often involve hand removal and/or chemical treatment to control nuisance or invasive aquatic plants. However, it’s important for pond abutters to know that they too directly affect pond health and water quality. This brochure lists several ways homeowners can help protect Weston’s ponds and wetlands. 1. Nature likes it Messy Some people want to “clean up” nature to create a park like appearance. However, wildlife often needs thick tangles of undergrowth, leaf litter, and deadwood to survive. Aquatic plants are a vital part of any healthy pond and wetland ecosystem. Plants and algae provide many benefits to the pond: roots help to prevent muddy water by stabilizing the pond bottom and banks. Pond plants use nutrients that may be taken up by nuisance algae. The stems, roots, and leaves of pond plants serve as important wildlife habitat for small pond animals such as dragonfly nymphs, tadpoles, and crayfish. If you are concerned that there are too many nuisance plants or algae growing in your pond, the law requires that you speak to the Conservation Commission prior to doing any vegetation removal or chemical treatments within or near the pond.
    [Show full text]
  • Wetland Conservation Fact Sheet
    WETLAND CONSERVATION What does the Hudson Valley have to lose? Wetlands are important components of the Hudson River estuary watershed, providing habitat for wildlife and plants, improving water quality and storing floodwater, and offering unique opportunities for people to experience nature. ▐ Wetland diversity The estuary watershed supports a diversity of tidal and non-tidal wetland types, from freshwater intertidal mudflats along the Hudson’s shores, to floodplain forests along creeks, to inland wetlands such as woodland pools. At least half of the 57 wetland community types that occur in New York have been documented in the estuary watershed. Each of these different wetlands has unique conditions, and in turn supports different plants, wildlife, and fish, contributing significantly to the region’s rich biodiversity. ▐ What is a wetland? Wetlands are typically defined by vegetation, soils, and hydrology. More specifically, wetlands are areas saturated by surface or groundwater enough to support a community of plants that are adapted to life in saturated soil conditions. Water is not always present; in fact, some kinds of wetlands often appear dry. If water is present long enough during the year to influence the kinds of plants that grow, an area can be a wetland. Plants like blue vervain (above) can tolerate ▐ Benefits of wetlands prolonged wet soil conditions. Photo: L. Heady Wetlands provide many functions and benefits that are valuable to people and the environment, including: • water quality improvement: Wetlands cleanse water by filtering out pollutants, which are then broken down or immobilized. They also filter sediment and reduce turbidity. • flood and storm water control: Wetlands absorb, store, and slow the flow of rain and snow melt, helping to minimize flooding and related damage.
    [Show full text]