Floodplain Forest Ecology

Mark Dixon Introduction to River Studies October 11, 2011

Outline
Key concepts, functions, and processes in riparian zones Interactions of plants with river processes Historic landscape and vegetation change Future trends?

Some Definitions
Riparian
of or belonging to the bank of a river The interface or ecotone between aquatic and upland ecosystems

Floodplain
Level land periodically submerged by floodwaters, or a plain built up by stream deposition (Stromberg & Tellman 2009)

Functions of Riparian Zones

Filter, buffer, ecotone
Protect aquatic resources from pollution Linkages between terrestrial and aquatic

San Pedro River, Arizona, National Geographic Magazine

Functional Role of Floodplains: Aquatic-Terrestrial Food Webs

From Baxter et al. 2005

Ecosystem Services/Ecological Functions of Riparian Forests

Functions of Riparian Zones

Filter, buffer, ecotone
Protect aquatic resources from pollution Linkages between terrestrial and aquatic

Corridor
Organism movements, population viability Upstream-downstream linkages

Biodiversity hotspot
High diversity of species and habitats
San Pedro River, Arizona, National Geographic Magazine

Riparian Pattern and Processes

Important processes:
Physical:
Movement of water and sediment

Biological
Movement, colonization, survival/mortality, reproduction, adaptation

Characteristics:
Temporally Dynamism Spatially Diversity

Morphology, Dynamics of a Braided River

Morphology, Dynamics of a Meandering River

Habitat Diversity Driven by Fluvial Geomorphic Processes

Alluvial Landforms

From Naiman et al. 2005

Vegetation patterns influenced by river processes

Oldman River, Alberta, Canada

From Naiman et al. 2005 (photo from Stewart Rood)

Vegetation influences river processes

Large Woody Debris, Queets River, Washington

From Naiman et al. 2005

Platte River
NEED NEW SLIDES PHRAGMITES ALSO NEED SOME SUMMARY TEXT SLIDES FOR BOTH???
AT LEAST GIVE STUDENTS AN OUTLINE

Opportunities and Stresses for Plants in River/Floodplain Environments

Stresses/Challenges
Too wet
flooding, low oxygen levels in soils, etc.

Instability and physical disturbance

erosion, deposition, physical force of water, rapid change

Competition

Opportunities:
Open habitats, low competition, high moisture and sunlight

Resilience

Plant Adaptations to Riparian Environments

Ability to re-sprout after burial or flood damage, rapid growth

Endurance
Tolerate inundation, low oxygen levels, burial, low nutrients, drought, high shear stress

Colonization ability
Dispersal by wind and water, vegetative reproduction Timing of seed release in relation to flood timing Reproduction may be depend on flooding & fluvial landforms

Competitive ability

Stresses and Opportunities for Plants Vary Across the Riparian Zone

Drier conditions, less frequent floods, finer soils, greater depth to water table

Wetter conditions, more frequent floods, coarser soils, shallower depth to water table

Plant Life History Strategies

3 strategies (Grime)
R = Ruderals (High Disturbance, Low Stress)
Rapid growth, early reproduction High investment in repro. & produce many small seeds

S = Stress-tolerant (Low Disturbance, High Stress)

Slow growth, conserve nutrients and water May invest in defense against herbivores

C = Competitive (Low Disturbance, Low Stress)

Growth limited more by competition for space and resources than by environment directly Strong ability to exploit resources in face of competition
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Patterns in Time and Space may be related

From Richter and Richter 2000

Succession
directional, cumulative change in the species composition of vegetation at one location over the course of about 1-500 years. (Barbour et al.) the change in plant, animal, and microbial communities in an area following disturbance or creation of new substrate. (Molles) A hypothetically orderly sequence of changes in plant communities leading to a stable climax community. (Langston)

Disturbance:
a relatively discrete event that disrupts the structure of an ecosystem, community, or population, and changes resource availability or the physical environment.
(Turner et al. 2001, Pickett and White 1985)

Examples:
Fire, flood, high wind, earthquake, volcano, severe insect infestation, etc.

 Modification of environment by organisms

Plants create shade, litter, modify microclimate, change soil structure and chemistry

Important Mechanisms in Succession

Influences of plants on each other

Competition for light, nutrients, moisture, space

Species traits & population processes

Gradual replacement of colonizing species (R) with competitive (C) ones that can continue to establish

Succession - Terms
Seral / Successional stages
Pioneer / early successional species
Good colonizers (Ruderal species)

Late successional species

Good competitors

Climax community when no further directional change in species composition

Outdated concept?

Mathematical Model of Succession in Missouri River floodplain forests

(adapted from Johnson 1992)

River meandering creates seedbeds for cottonwood & willow establishment

Sandbar Willow (Salix interior)

Peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides)

Plains Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Cottonwood and willow establish after floods of appropriate size and timing
Large spring floods move and deposit sediment, preparing bare surfaces suitable for seedling growth Slowly receding floodwaters deposit seeds and provide moisture for growth Timing of floods and recession must coincide with when seeds are released

Changes in Composition
With forest age:
Declines in cottonwood dominance Increased abundance of other species

Later Successional Species Box elder (Acer negundo)

American elm (Ulmus americana)

Dutch Elm Disease

Green ash (Fraxinus pensylvanica)

Emerald Ash Borer

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Native and Non-native Invasive Species

Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)

White mulberry (Morus alba)

Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

Russian olive (Elaeagnus