Ecology of Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands of the Southeastern United States

Tidal freshwater forested wetlands are unique wetland systems. Occupying low relief coastal areas which are subject to both upland runoff and tidal flooding, these systems are especially vulnerable to pressure from human development and to climate change impacts of sea-level rise and increased drought/flood frequency. Yet to date the ecological dynamics, distribution, and conservation status of these communities is poorly understood. This book draws together the latest findings from investigators focusing on the hydrological processes, community organization, and stress physiology of freshwater, tidally influenced land-margin forests of the southeastern United States. It describes the land use history that led to the restricted distribution of these wetlands, and provides descriptions of the hydrology, soils, biogeochemistry, and physiological ecology of these systems, highlighting the similarities shared among tidal freshwater forested wetlands. Including case studies from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana, Ecology of Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands of the Southeastern United States will be an important resource for researchers, natural resource managers and students interested in understanding the complex dynamics of this unique coastal ecosystem; one that has been altered by land-use history and which is now undergoing decline due to changing climate, sea-level rise and hurricanes. In particular, it provides current knowledge on those biological, geological, hydrological and physical forcing factors that may influence the possible alternatives and likely success of coastal restoration projects for these vulnerable ecosystems. Tidal freshwater swamps are unique wetland systems occupying low relief coastal areas subjected to both upland run-off and tidal flooding. These systems are especially vulnerable to pressure from human development and to climate change impacts of sea-level rise and increased drought/flood frequency. While these systems have received rather nominal scientific attention, the ecological dynamics, state-wide distribution, and conservation status of these communities is poorly understood. This book brings together a group of investigators whose principal research focus has targeted hydrological processes, community organization, and stress physiology of freshwater, tidally influenced land-margin forests of the south-eastern United States. The book describes the land use history that led to the restricted distribution of these swamps, followed by descriptions of the hydrology, soils, biogeochemistry, and physiological ecology of these systems with special attention on similarities shared among tidal freshwater swamps.; Overviews of tidal swamps along the Pocomoke River (Maryland), Chesapeake Bay (Virginia, North Carolina), Waccamaw River (South Carolina), Savannah River (South Carolina, Georgia), Suwannee River (Florida), and Waccasassa Bay (Florida) are presented for more specific detail. In addition, micro-tidal swamps along the rapidly subsiding Louisiana coast in the Manchac Swamp and wetlands in the Barataria and Terrebonne regions of Louisiana are described as examples of heavily degraded wetlands