Bottomland Vegetation Distribution along Passage Creek, Virginia, in Relation to Fluvial Landforms

Abstract

Persistent distribution patterns of woody vegetation within the bottomland forest of Passage Creek, Virginia, were related to fluvial landforms, channel geometry, streamflow characteristics, and sediment-size characteristics. Vegetation patterns were determined from species presence a~ oJ:>se~ed in transects and traverses on landforms developed along the stream. Distinct species distnbubonal patterns were found on four common fluvial geomorphic landforms: depositional bar, active-channel shelf, floodplain, and terrace. Independent hydrologic characteristics (flow duration a':ld floo? fr~q~:~ency) were _dete~i~ed for each of the landforms. Vegetation data were analyzed by bmary discnmmant analysis, pnnc1pal components analysis, and detrended correspondence analysis. Results and related field observations suggest that certain species are significantly associated with specific fluvial landforms. Vegetation patterns appear to develop more as a result of hydrologic processes associated with each fluvial landform rather than from sediment-size characteristics. Flood disturbance may be an important factor in maintaining the vegetation patterns, which may therefore be used as indicators for particular hydrogeomorphic site conditions. F!G. 2. Block diagram showing fluvial landforms. From the lowest, the features are: CB = channel bed, DB = depositional bar, AB =channel-shelf bank, AS= channel shelf, FB =floodplain bank, FP =floodplain, T1 =lower terrace, T" =upper terrace, and HL = hillslope. From Osterkamp and Hupp (1984).

Effects of River Regulation on River-Margin Vegetation: A Comparison of Eight Boreal Rivers

“…Natural river margins have high habitat heterogeneity because natural river flows scour some margins and deposit sediment on others (Hupp andOsterkamp 1985, Kalliola andPuhakka 1988) and because flow velocity varies along free-flowing rivers (Nilsson 1987). The riparian zone has high complexity, with zonation of plants along the flood-duration gradient.…”

Paleoecological and floristic heterogeneity in the plant-fossil record; an analysis based on the Eocene of Washington

“…Plant-species composition is likely to have been somewhat patchy in the Puget Group floodplain; individuals of species probably were distributed in clumps or zones across a heterogeneous edaphic or topographic area. This type of distribution has been documented in temperate and tropical forests (Nixon and others, 1977;Hubbell, 1979;Hupp and Osterkamp, 1985) and has been presumed to be due to patchy dispersal and disturbance.…”

“…The plant species composition at any particular site on a floodplain is dependent on the topography, substrate, and frequency and depth of flooding (Shelford, 1954;Bedinger, 1971;Bell and del Moral, 1977;Nixon and others, 1977; 'Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079 Frye and Quinn, 1979;Hupp, 1982Hupp, , 1983Yanosky, 1982;Hupp and Osterkamp, 1985;Johnson and others 1985). The differential response of species to physical heterogeneity creates a mosaic of partly distinct vegetation zones within the floodplain of a river.…”

The effects of river patterns on riparian vegetation: A comparison of anabranching and single-thread incised channels

“…These results demonstrate a larger variety of habitat conditions in the floodplain area along the anabranching river channel. The habitat conditions are represented especially by terrestrial and semi-terrestrial habitats (sensu Hupp and Osterkamp, 1985;Hupp and Bornette, 2003), affected by periodical inundation with dry and wet periods (with terrestrial and semi-terrestrial conditions, respectively). Consequently, biodiversity is higher in the floodplain along the anabranching river channel (sensu Mikuś et al, 2013).…”