environmental constraints and species differences in establishment and expansion … · ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Environmental Constraints and
Species Differences in
Establishment and Expansion of
Three Freshwater Tidal Marsh
Plant Species
Taylor Sloey1 and Mark W. Hester1
1. University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Coastal Plant Ecology Laboratory
Lafayette, LA. U.S.A.
Research Questions
• How might environmental conditions impact
vegetation establishment and expansion?
Research Questions
• How might environmental conditions impact
vegetation establishment and expansion?
• What differences exist among species
regarding establishment and expansion?
Monitoring
EDAPHIC • Elevation
• Soil Bulk Density
• Soil Redox
Potential
• Pore Water pH
• Soil % OM
• Soil Particle
Distribution
• Depth to
Compacted Soil
Layer
Initial Planting: June 2010
3 Month: Sept 2010
12 Month: June 2011
24 Month: June 2012
Monitoring
Initial Planting: June 2010
3 Month: Sept 2010
12 Month: June 2011
24 Month: June 2012
EDAPHIC • Elevation
• Soil Bulk Density
• Soil Redox
Potential
• Pore Water pH
• Soil % OM
• Soil Particle
Distribution
• Depth to
Compacted Soil
Layer
Monitoring
TRANSPLANT • % Survival
• % Live Cover
• Stem Density
• Stem Height
• Area Vegetative
Expansion
Initial Planting: June 2010
3 Month: Sept 2010
12 Month: June 2011
24 Month: June 2012
Monitoring
TRANSPLANT • % Survival
• % Live Cover
• Stem Density
• Stem Height
• Area Vegetative
Expansion
Initial Planting: June 2010
3 Month: Sept 2010
12 Month: June 2011
24 Month: June 2012
Elevation
0
0.5
2
1.5
1.0
MHHW
MHW
MTL
MLW
MLLW
Ele
vati
on
NA
VD
88 (
mete
rs)
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
Edaphic Characteristics
1.0
0.5
0
So
il B
ulk
Den
sit
y (
g/c
m3)
EXPOSED
FRINGE
EXPOSED
WATER
PROTECT
FRINGE
PROTECT
WATER
P< 0.0001
Edaphic Characteristics
0
-10
-20
Dep
th t
o S
oil R
esis
tan
ce (
cm
)
EXPOSED
FRINGE
EXPOSED
WATER
PROTECT
FRINGE
PROTECT
WATER
P< 0.0001
Rhizomes Adult Transplants
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
% Survival (Rhizomes) 2010
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
% Survival (Transplant) 2010
Su
rviv
al (%
)
Survival : Sept 2010
Exposed Fringe Exposed Open Water Protected Fringe Protected Open Water
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
Life Stage: P<0.0001
Species: P<0.0001
Stem Density : Sept 2010
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Ste
m D
en
sit
y (
per
0.2
5m
2 p
lot)
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
Species: P=0.0002
Site: P=0.2762
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Stem Density : June 2011
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
Ste
m D
en
sit
y (
per
0.2
5m
2 p
lot)
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
Species: P<0.0001
Site: P=0.9547
Transplant Expansion
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
T. latifolia
Are
a E
xp
an
sio
n (
cm
2)
TIME (months)
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
Site: P=0.2470
Transplant Expansion
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
S. acutus
Are
a E
xp
an
sio
n (
cm
2)
TIME (months)
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
Site: P=0.5567
Transplant Expansion
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
S. californicus
Are
a E
xp
an
sio
n (
cm
2)
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
TIME (months)
Site: P=0.0132
Conclusions
Environmental Characteristics
Degree of soil compaction greater on
protected side
Species Performance
S. californicus best suited to establish and
expand
Conclusions
Environmental Characteristics
Degree of soil compaction greater on
protected side
Species Performance
S. californicus best suited to establish and
expand
Area Expansion
Soil compaction may be a limiting factor
1) Successful sexual reproduction
2) Ensure amiable edaphic conditions
3) Species selection
Restoration Concerns: