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EVFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter 6ce, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL BOUNDARY STUDIES ON AN UPLAND-TO-WETLAND TRANSITION IN BETSCH FEN PRESERVE, OHIO : AN EVALUATION OF METHODS TO DETERMINE LANDSCAPE BOUNDARIES DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Devi Nandita Choesin, M.S. ***** The Ohio State University 1997 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Ralph E.J. Boemer, adviser William A. Jensen Adviser Departmèm of Plant Biology William J. Mitsch Mohan K. Wali mil Number: 9801667 UMI Microform 9801667 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ABSTRACT Landscape boundary locations are important not only because of their ecological significance, but also because of their potential regulatory implications. This study examined and compared different approaches to boundary determination suggested from both traditional vegetation analysis and landscape ecological literature by applying them to field data collected fi-om Betsch Fen, an alkaline wetland in Ohio. This basic ecological objective was then related to practical applications in regulatory wetland delineation. Betsch Fen is a high quality fen exhibiting typical vegetation zonation and many plant species representative of Ohio fens. Two years’ monitoring of water chemistry suggested a significant relationship between water alkalinity levels and plant community distribution. However, spatial patterns were more complex than previously assumed, and functional boundaries of water alkalinity did not coincide entirely with structural boundaries of vegetation. Soil chemistry was not as important in determining vegetation establishment. Three boundary detection methods were examined: (1) gradient analysis by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), (2) the moving split-window (MSW) technique, and (3) the federal method of wetland delineation as outlined by the US Army Corps of Engineers technical manual. DCA and MSW were used to test hypothesized boundary locations determined through field observations. DCA was more successful in detecting vegetation changes at the community level, but it was often difficult to extrapolate this information to a landscape level. In contrast, MSW detected changes at a landscape level which overestimated minor shifts in species composition at the community level. Although results fi'om MSW were more easily interpretable, neither method completely confirmed hypothesized boundary locations. While DCA and MSW should ideally be used in conjunction to provide maximum information on boundary location and ecological significance, this would be unrealistic in practical applications. A method must be selected which satisfies the specific objectives most, taking into consideration the compromise between practicality and reliability. As relates to wetland delineation, it is also important to consider issues of time, manpower, expenses and practicality. The objective should be to minimize time and effort while employing an ecologically sound quantitative method which considers the importance of vegetation, water and soil. Ill with love, admiration, respect and gratitude to My Father and the loving memory of My Mother IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I owe a debt of gratitude to Ralph Boemer for his constant and patient guidance during this project and all my years at Ohio State. As an adviser, Ralph gave me enough freedom to pursue my own ideas, but would always be there whenever things went wrong. His inputs of thought, time and energy into this project have been invaluable. I thank the many faculty members who have contributed their time and suggestions to this project and throughout my studies at Ohio State. Drs. Jon Bart, Roger Hangarter, William Mitsch and Fred Sack provided comments and suggestions during the proposal stage of this project. During the writing of this dissertation, I received valuable input from Drs. Peter Curtis, William Jensen, William Mitsch, Deanna Stouder and Mohan Wali. Funding for this project was provided by grants from The Ohio State University Janice Beatley Herbarium Awards, the Nature Conservancy research grants program, and part of a fellowship from the the World Bank/Indonesian Second University Development Project. I am grateful to Jeff Knoop and Steve Sutherland from the Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conservancy for introducing me to Betsch Fen, and allowing me to carry out my research plans. I was very fortunate to have found great student helpers who helped with my field work for three field seasons, and who shared my interest in ecology and in this project: Meryl Hattenbach helped me set-up the project in 1994, while Megan Gahl was a tremendous help during 1995 and part of 1996. In addition, Rick Shamblen also came out a few times to the field. To past and present students of the Boemer Lab whom I have gotten to know over the years: thank you for your fiiendship and sharing of knowledge, experiences and ideas. Thank you also to Jennifer Brinkman who was always willing to help out in the lab. I am also grateful to the Department of Biology at Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia for giving me the opportunity to pursue this higher degree, and for tolerating my very long absence. Many other individuals have contributed their time and expertise to this project, and I would like to especially thank and mention a few of them here. Jennifer Windus gave me the initial introduction to Ohio fens, and thus helped me formulate my research questions. Jennifer and the staff* at the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued permits for my field work and also helped with the identification of plant species. Bob Klips not only came out to the field with me several times, but also spent many hours helping me identify plant species. Mike Feher of Henderson Aerial Surveys in Columbus generously provided the most recent aerial photograph of Betsch Fen, taken especially for this study. 1 thank the above and all others too numerous to mention. VI I dedicate this work with much love, admiration, respect and gratitude to my parents who always taught me the importance of the pursuit of knowledge. My mother may not be here to share this little accomplishment, but I’m sure she’s watching over me somewhere. Finally, of course, I will forever be indebted to my husband, Donny, for all his love and understanding while sharing the vicissitudes of this endeavor. I owe him not just for his continued moral support and encouragement, but for so much more, including the long hours he sacrificed to help me out in the field and on the computer. Throughout all of this, he has always kept things in perspective by reminding me of life's priorities and the importance of faith. vn VITA April 6, 1961 ............................................................Bom - Jakarta, Indonesia. 1987 ........................................................................ B.S. (Sarjana) in Biology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia. 1988-present ............................................................ Faculty Member, Department of Biology, Bandung Institute of Tech nology, Indonesia. 1990 ........................................................................ M.S. in Plant Biology, The Ohio State University, USA. 1992-1997 .............................................................. Graduate Teaching Associate, De partment of Plant Biology, The Ohio State University, USA. PUBLICATION Choesin, D.N. and R.E.J. Boemer. 1991. Allyl isothiocyanate release and the allelopathic potential of Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae). American Joumal of Botany. 78(8): 1083-1090. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Plant Biology Studies in Plant Ecology v n i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ................................................................................................................. ii Dedication .............................................................................................................