Hydrologic processes on tree islands in the Everglades (Florida, USA): tracking the effects of tree establishment and growth

Sullivan, Pamela L.; Price, René M.; Ross, Michael S.; Scinto, Leonard J.; Stoffella, Susana L.; Cline, Eric; Dreschel, Thomas W.; Sklar, Fred H.

doi:10.1007/s10040-010-0691-0

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…ET increases from February in response to increasing solar radiation. In the Everglades, plants are seen to have active transpiration through much of the dry season as has been observed in studies of plant water uptake in hardwood hammocks and pine rocklands (Ewe et al 1999;Saha et al 2009;Villalobos 2010), tree islands and swamp forests (Wang et al 2010;Sullivan et al 2010), and mangroves (Barr et al 2010). There can be a reduction in transpiration in late dry season in part of SRS caused by soilwater deficits and salinity increases (Sternberg et al 2007;Saha et al 2011); soilwater deficits can occur in the outer or shallower areas of the SRS that dry earlier while increasing rhizosphere salinity lowers transpiration in freshwater-dependant plants (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Furthermore, the variety of vegetation types in the Everglades can affect transpiration which is related to the amount of photosynthesizing biomass per unit area, species-specific water-use efficiencies and seasonal water use arising from phenology. For instance, trees on tree island heads draw in groundwater from the surrounding marsh in the dry season (McCarthy 2006;Saha et al 2009;Sullivan et al 2010), suggesting higher water uptake rates per unit area than surrounding sawgrass and slough vegetation, thus resulting in higher transpiration. It remains to be seen, however if the greater transpiration on tree islands is countered by higher open water evaporation in marshes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Hydrological Budget (2002–2008) for a Large Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Indicates Marine Groundwater Discharge Accompanies Diminished Freshwater Flow

Saha

Moses

Price

et al. 2011

Estuaries and Coasts

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Water budget parameters are estimated for Shark River Slough (SRS), the main drainage within Everglades National Park (ENP) from 2002 to 2008. Inputs to the water budget include surface water inflows and precipitation while outputs consist of evapotranspiration, discharge to the Gulf of Mexico and seepage losses due to municipal wellfield extraction. The daily change in volume of SRS is equated to the difference between input and outputs yielding a residual term consisting of component errors and net groundwater exchange. Results predict significant net groundwater discharge to the SRS peaking in June and positively correlated with surface water salinity at the mangrove ecotone, lagging by 1 month. Precipitation, the largest input to the SRS, is offset by ET (the largest output); thereby highlighting the importance of increasing fresh water inflows into ENP for maintaining conditions in terrestrial, estuarine, and marine ecosystems of South Florida.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Hydrological Budget (2002–2008) for a Large Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Indicates Marine Groundwater Discharge Accompanies Diminished Freshwater Flow

Saha

Moses

Price

et al. 2011

Estuaries and Coasts

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“…Using insights from water budgets of inland hardwood hammocks where groundwater is fresh Sullivan et al 2010;Villalobos 2010) and from data on patterns of water source utilization by hardwood species in coastal hammocks, we conceptualize how sea level rise will affect freshwater availability in coastal hardwood hammocks. We suggest that the rising water table accompanying sea level rise will lead to shrinking of the vadose zone as well as increase salinity in the bottom portion of the freshwater lens (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sea level rise and South Florida coastal forests

Saha²,

et al. 2011

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Coastal ecosystems lie at the forefront of sea level rise. We posit that before the onset of actual inundation, sea level rise will influence the species composition of coastal hardwood hammocks and buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.) forests of the Everglades National Park based on tolerance to drought and salinity. Precipitation is the major water source in coastal hammocks and is stored in the soil vadose zone, but vadose water will diminish with the rising water table as a consequence of sea level rise, thereby subjecting plants to salt water stress. A model is used to demonstrate that the constraining effect of salinity on transpiration limits the distribution of freshwater-dependent communities. Field data collected in hardwood hammocks and coastal buttonwood forests over 11 years show that halophytes have replaced glycophytes. We establish that sea level rise threatens 21 rare coastal species in Everglades National Park and estimate the relative risk to each Climatic Change (2011) 107:81-108 species using basic life history and population traits. We review salinity conditions in the estuarine region over 1999-2009 and associate wide variability in the extent of the annual seawater intrusion to variation in freshwater inflows and precipitation. We also examine species composition in coastal and inland hammocks in connection with distance from the coast, depth to water table, and groundwater salinity. Though this study focuses on coastal forests and rare species of South Florida, it has implications for coastal forests threatened by saltwater intrusion across the globe.

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“…As a result of this, salt accumulations occur underneath islands and minimize surface water salinity (McCarthy et al 1994). Similar processes are beginning to be identified in other sub-tropical major wetlands, such as the Everglades (e.g., Wetzel et al 2005, Sullivan et al 2010. In the context of the Okavango Delta, this is a critical ecological process for the long-term sustainability of the system .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Spatial variation of population size structure of selected riparian tree species in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Tsheboeng¹,

Murray-Hudson²

2013

Biodivers. Ecol.

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Abstract:Transpiration by riparian trees in the Okavango Delta (Botswana) creates a salinity gradient which facilitates continuous water movement from the swamps to the islands. This leads to salt accumulations underneath islands which minimizes surface water salinity. The aim of this study was to investigate spatial variation in population size structure of riparian tree species in the Delta. It was hypothesized that riparian tree population structure will vary spatially due to different hydrological conditions. Riparian vegetation was surveyed in Boro, Santawani, Moremi, Vumbura and Seronga from a total of 75 plots measuring 20m x 50m. Species chosen for this study in terms of their dominance were Croton megalobotrys Müll. Arg, Philenoptera violacea (Klotzsch) Schrire, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex A.DC and Acacia nigrescens Oliv. Diameter at breast height (dbh) was measured for tree individuals with stem diameter >2.5cm. Linear regression analysis was used to infer population size class distribution of each species. Croton megalobotrys Müll. Arg showed a reverse J size class distribution (SCD) pattern in Boro, Santawani and Vumbura while it showed a bell shaped pattern in Moremi. Philenoptera violacea (Klotzsch) Schrire showed an irregular size class distribution pattern with some missing size classes in Boro and Santawani while it showed a reversed J shaped size class distribution pattern with more individuals in the lower size classes in Vumbura. Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex A.DC showed a U shaped SCD pattern in Boro and irregular pattern in Seronga and Vumbura. Acacia nigrescens Oliv showed irregular SCD pattern with some missing size classes in Boro and Santawani and reverse J shaped SCD pattern with more individuals in the lower size classes in Seronga.Keywords: diameter at breast hight (dbh); Okavango; recruitment; size class distribution (SCD); species.Variação espacial da estrutura de tamanho da população de espécies selecionadas de árvores ribeirinhas no delta do Okavango, Botsuana Resumo: A transpiração de árvores ribeirinhas no delta do Okavango, Botsuana, cria um gradiente de salinidade que facilita o movimento contínuo de água dos pântanos para as ilhas. Isto leva a acumulações de sal debaixo das ilhas que minimizam a salinidade da água de superfície. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a variação espacial na estrutura de tamanho da população de espécies de árvores ribeirinhas no delta. Postula-se que a estrutura da população de árvores ribeirinhas irá variar espacialmente devido à diferentes condições hidrológicas. A vegetação ribeirinha foi monitorada em Boro, Santawani, Moremi, Vumbura e Seronga de um total de 75 terrenos de 20m x 50m. As espécies escolhidas para esse estudo, em termos de sua posição dominante foram Croton megalobotrys Müll. Arg, Philenoptera violacea (Klotzsch) Schrire, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex A.DC e Acacia nigrescens Oliv. O diâmetro à altura do peito (DBH) foi medido em arbóreas com diâmetro do caule maior que 2.5 cm. A análise de regressão linear f...

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Hydrologic processes on tree islands in the Everglades (Florida, USA): tracking the effects of tree establishment and growth

Cited by 29 publications

References 36 publications

A Hydrological Budget (2002–2008) for a Large Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Indicates Marine Groundwater Discharge Accompanies Diminished Freshwater Flow

A Hydrological Budget (2002–2008) for a Large Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Indicates Marine Groundwater Discharge Accompanies Diminished Freshwater Flow

Sea level rise and South Florida coastal forests

Spatial variation of population size structure of selected riparian tree species in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

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