SREL Reprint #2962

Ecological consequences of changing hydrological conditions in wetland forests of coastal Louisiana

Richard F. Keim1, Jim L. Chambers1, Melinda S. Hughes1, J. Andrew Nyman1, Craig A. Miller1, J. Blake Amos1,
William H. Conner2, Stephen P. Faulkner3, Sammy L. King4, John W. Day, Jr.5, Emile S. Gardiner6,
Kenneth W. McLeod7, and Gary P. Shaffer8

1School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center,
Renewable Natural Resources Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
2Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science,
Clemson University P O Box 596, Georgetown, SC 29442 USA
3National Wetlands Research Center, USGS, 700 Cajundome Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70506 USA
4LSU Agricultural Center, School of Renewable Natural Resources, USGS Louisiana Coop. Fish & Wildlife Rsch Unit,
Renewable Natural Resources Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
5School of the Coast and Environment, Coastal Ecology Institute, Louisiana State University,
Energy Coast and Environment Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
6Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, USDA Forest Service, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory,
P O Box 227, Stoneville, MS 38776 USA
7University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P O Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802 USA
8Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Meade Hall 107, Hammond, LA 70402 USA

Abstract: Large-scale and localized alterations of processes affecting deltaic coastal wetlands have caused the complete loss of some coastal wetland forests and reduced the productivity and vigor of many areas in coastal Louisiana. This loss and degradation threatens ecosystem functions and the services they provide. This paper summarizes ecological relationships controlled by hydrological processes in coastal wetland forests of the Mississippi River delta and presents two case studies that illustrate the complexity of assessing hydrological control on swamp forest establishment and growth. Productivity of overstory trees has been affected by these changes, but the first case study illustrates that the relationship between flooding and growth may be site-specific. An important effect of increased flooding has been to reduce regeneration of swamp forest trees. The second case study is an outline of the kind of hydrological analysis required to assess probability of regeneration success.

SREL Reprint #2962

Keim, R. F., J. L. Chambers, M. S. Hughes, J. A. Nyman, C. A. Miller, J. B. Amos, W. H. Conner, S. P. Faulkner, S. L. King, J. W. Day, Jr., E. S. Gardiner, K. W. McLeod, and G. P. Shaffer. 2006. Ecological consequences of changing hydrological conditions in wetland forests of coastal Louisiana. pp. 383-396 In Y. J. Xu and V. P. Singh (Eds.). Coastal Environment and Water Quality, Water Resources Publications, LLC, Highlands Ranch, CO.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).