Vegetation along hydrologic, edaphic, and geochemical gradients in a high-elevation poor fen in Canaan Valley, West Virginia

Abstract

Wetland plant community composition and pattern are regulated by a host of abiotic/environmental gradients and biotic factors. We used multivariate analyses to classify wetland plant communities and determine the relation of hydrologic, edaphic, and geochemical gradients on community composition and spatial distribution among 18 vegetation, hydrology, and soil sampling points in Abe Run, a botanically unique poor fen in northeastern West Virginia. We also examined the interactions of disturbance with the physical environment and species composition. A total of 179 vascular plant species were identified from sample plots. Vegetative composition and structure, dominant soil texture, and hydrology lacked the distinct concentric zonation of northern peatlands; instead, all were patchy and varied considerably over short distances. Graminoid-forb meadows with primarily silt-loam mineral horizons, greater depth to groundwater, and fewer days of inundation characterized the lower reaches of the wetland. These plots were more acidic, with absent or shallow O horizons, and lower concentrations of soil base cations (Ca, Mg, K). In the upper reaches of the wetland, mixed herb-shrub-tree dominated communities were structurally and compositionally more complex; here, organic horizons were much more prominent, peat depth ranged from 80 to 100 cm, and the average depth to water table was 10 cm less than for wells in the lower reaches of the wetland. Plots from upper transects (3-6) tended to have more shrub and tree cover, and higher concentrations of soil base cations. Much of the variability among plots in the upper and lower reaches of the wetland are consistent with beaver inundation of a large portion of the wetland during the 1980s. Multipleresponse permutation procedures verified the difference (P \ 0.0001) between vegetation of plots in the lower and upper reaches of the watershed. Because fens are connected to groundwater, these habitats are particularly vulnerable to disturbances, particularly those that alter existing land use and land cover. Minimization of disturbances in the surrounding watershed, controls on an excessive deer population, removal of exotic, nonnative species, and control on foot traffic are all integral to maintaining the integrity of this high-value wetland.

Vegetative composition and community structure associated with beaver ponds in Canaan valley, West Virginia, USA

“…We believe the lack of significance can be contributed to the small number of locations where individual rare plants occurred, a problem inherent in sampling rare species (Steidl et al 1997). We believe our sampling protocols were adequate to pick up rare species in beaver ponds due to the combination of plot sampling and walk-around visual surveys (Poon and Margules 2004). Older ponds were found to harbor some rare plant species not found elsewhere in our study area.…”

A three-tiered framework to select, prioritize, and evaluate potential wetland and stream mitigation banking sites

“…In addition to landowner permission or land acquisition, several surveys would need to be conducted before the sites were ready for mitigation. First, wetland hydrologic inputs would need to be determined by installing observation wells and monitoring them for at least 12 months (Rentch et al 2008). The water budget performed in Level 3 of this study gives an indication of the surface runoff to each site, but does not describe the groundwater or overbank flow of water to the site.…”

“…Determining hydrologic inputs to a potential wetland site is best conducted by installing observation wells and monitoring them for a year or more (Rentch et al 2008). Unfortunately, this option was not feasible because of time and logistical constraints.…”

Plant community composition as a function of geochemistry and hydrology in three Appalachian wetlands

“…High‐elevation wetlands in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains often support unique plant communities as well as rare or peripheral species (Stewart and Nilsen, 1993; Francl et al , 2004; Rentch et al , 2008). In headwater wetlands, vegetation composition may be highly variable over small spatial scales due to episodic inputs from ephemeral stream drainages or small changes in elevation (Francl et al , 2004; Rentch et al , 2008). Vegetative assessments have indicated that both small and large Appalachian wetlands are important for preservation of regional biodiversity as wetland size does not affect species richness or diversity (Francl et al , 2004).…”