Title:
Effects of Flooding on the Longleaf Pine-Wiregrass Ecosystem
Effects of Flooding on the Longleaf Pine-Wiregrass Ecosystem
Author(s)
Michener, William K.
Blood, Elizabeth R.
Golladay, Stephen W.
Kirkman, L. Katherine
Mitchell, Robert J.
Palik, Brian J.
Blood, Elizabeth R.
Golladay, Stephen W.
Kirkman, L. Katherine
Mitchell, Robert J.
Palik, Brian J.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
Collections
Supplementary to
Permanent Link
Abstract
Flood waters associated with Tropical Storm
Alberto inundated 21 km2 of uplands at Ichauway, a 115 km 2
ecological reserve located in southwestern Georgia. At the
landscape scale, sink holes were formed, landslides and
erosion occurred along riverine bluffs and terraces, and
sediment deposition occurred along all riparian corridors.
Xeric habitats, dominated by longleaf pine-wiregrass and
scrub-shrub, were disproportionately affected by flooding on
an area basis. Longleaf pine seedlings and saplings with
apical meristems above high water always survived.
Mortality of submerged longleaf pine and wiregrass was
positively related to flooding depth and duration. Treefall in
bluff riparian zones and hardwood hammocks reflected
species composition within the two habitats although oaks
and southern red cedar were the most commonly downed
trees in both habitats. Higher treefall was observed in bluff
riparian zones and may be related to constrained stream
channel geomorphology. Although infrequent, flooding
appears to be important in governing the structure and
function of the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem and, along
with other disturbances, should be explicitly incorporated
into reserve and riparian corridor planning and design.
Sponsor
Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date Issued
1995-04
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings