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.
Sacramento-San Joaquin
Levee Construction
•y
X
•y
Liberty Island
LEVEE BREACH
LEVEE BREACH
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?
Seed-Bank Assay
Transplant Study
Seed-Bank Assay
Exposed
Protected
September 2010
June 2011
September 2011
Exposed
Protected
Transplant Study
Species Selection
Typha
latifolia
Schoenoplectus
acutus
Schoenoplectus
californicus
Transplant Stages
Rhizome
Adult Transplant
Exposed
Open Water
Exposed
Marsh Fringe
Protected
Marsh Fringe
Protected
Open Water
Monitoring
EDAPHIC
• Elevation
• Soil Bulk Density
• Soil Redox
Potential
• Pore Water pH
• Soil % OM
• Soil Particle
Distribution
• Depth to
Compacted Soil
Layer
Initial Planting:
3 Month:
12 Month:
24 Month:
June 2010
Sept 2010
June 2011
June 2012
Monitoring
EDAPHIC
• Elevation
• Soil Bulk Density
• Soil Redox
Potential
• Pore Water pH
• Soil % OM
• Soil Particle
Distribution
• Depth to
Compacted Soil
Layer
Initial Planting:
3 Month:
12 Month:
24 Month:
June 2010
Sept 2010
June 2011
June 2012
Monitoring
TRANSPLANT
•
•
•
•
•
% Survival
% Live Cover
Stem Density
Stem Height
Area Vegetative
Expansion
Initial Planting:
3 Month:
12 Month:
24 Month:
June 2010
Sept 2010
June 2011
June 2012
Monitoring
TRANSPLANT
•
•
•
•
•
% Survival
% Live Cover
Stem Density
Stem Height
Area Vegetative
Expansion
Initial Planting:
3 Month:
12 Month:
24 Month:
June 2010
Sept 2010
June 2011
June 2012
RESULTS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Elevation
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
Elevation NAVD 88 (meters)
Exposed Fringe
2
MHHW
MHW
1.5
MTL
1.0
MLW
MLLW
0.5
0
Edaphic Characteristics
1.0
Soil Bulk Density (g/cm3)
P< 0.0001
0.5
0
EXPOSED EXPOSED PROTECT PROTECT
FRINGE
WATER
FRINGE
WATER
Depth to Soil Resistance (cm)
Edaphic Characteristics
EXPOSED EXPOSED PROTECT PROTECT
FRINGE
WATER
FRINGE
WATER
0
-10
-20
P< 0.0001
RESULTS
TRANSPLANT RESPONSE
Survival : Sept 2010
Rhizomes
Adult Transplants
Life Stage: P<0.0001
% Survival (Rhizomes) 2010
Species:
P<0.0001
% Survival (Transplant) 2010
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
60
60
50
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
10
10
0
0
Survival (%)
100
S. acutus
S. californicus
T. latifolia
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
S. acutus
S. californicus
T. latifolia
S. acutus S. californicus T. latifolia
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
June 2011
Adult Transplants
Rhizome Transplants
Stem Density : Sept 2010
Stem Density (per 0.25m2 plot)
70
60
Species: P=0.0002
Site: P=0.2762
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
50
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
40
30
20
10
0
S.
acutus
S. acutus
S.
S. californicus
californicus
T.
T. latifolia
latifolia
Stem Density (per 0.25m2 plot)
Stem Density : June 2011
70
60
Species: P<0.0001
Site: P=0.9547
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
50
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
40
30
20
10
0
S.
S.acutus
acutus
S.
S. californicus
californicus
T.
T. latifolia
latifolia
Dead Typha on
the West side of
Liberty Island in
June 2011
Photo: Hester 2011
Transplant Expansion
Site: P=0.2470
350
Area Expansion (cm2)
T. latifolia
Exposed Fringe
Exposed Open Water
300
Protected Fringe
250
Protected Open Water
200
150
100
50
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
TIME
(months)
8
9
10
11
12
Transplant Expansion
Area Expansion (cm2)
Site: P=0.5567
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Exposed Fringe
S. acutus
Exposed Open Water
Protected Fringe
Protected Open Water
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
TIME
(months)
Transplant Expansion
S. californicus
Exposed Fringe
Area Expansion (cm2)
Site: P=0.0132
Exposed Open Water
35000
Protected Fringe
30000
Protected Open Water
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
TIME
(months)
7
8
9 10 11 12
Protected Open Water
Exposed Open Water
Conclusions

Environmental Characteristics
Degree of soil compaction greater on
protected side
Conclusions

Environmental Characteristics
Degree of soil compaction greater on
protected side

Species Performance
S. californicus best suited to establish and
expand
S. californicus
S. californicus
Encyclopedia of Life
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
Restoration Concerns:
1) Successful sexual reproduction
Restoration Concerns:
1) Successful sexual reproduction
2) Ensure amiable edaphic conditions
Restoration Concerns:
1) Successful sexual reproduction
2) Ensure amiable edaphic conditions
3) Species selection
Acknowledgements…
The Wetland Foundation ®
… enhancing wetland education and research
UL Lafayette
Coastal Plant Ecology Lab
Dr. Mark W. Hester
Dr. Jonathan M. Willis
Mike Dupuis
Christine Pickens