Ecological consequences of changing hydrological conditions in wetland forests of coastal Louisiana

Richard F. Keim, Jim L. Chambers, Melinda S. Hughes, J. Andrew Nyman, Craig A. Miller and J. Blake Amos School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Renewable Natural Resources Building Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
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William H. Conner Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science Clemson University P O Box 596 Georgetown, SC 29442 USA	SREL	John W. Day, Jr. School of the Coast and Environment, Coastal Ecology Institute, Louisiana State University Energy Coast and Environment Building Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
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Stephen P. Faulkner National Wetlands Research Center USGS 700 Cajundome Blvd Lafayette, LA 70506 USA	SREL	Emile S. Gardiner Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, USDA Forest Service, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory P O Box 227 Stoneville, MS 38776 USA
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Sammy L. King LSU Agricultural Center School of Renewable Natural Resources USGS Louisiana Coop. Fish & Wildlife Rsch Unit Renewable Natural Resources Building Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA	SREL	Kenneth W. McLeod University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory P O Drawer E Aiken, SC 29802 USA
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Gary P. Shaffer Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University Meade Hall 107, Hammond, LA 70402 USA

Abstract: Large-scale and localized alterations of processes affecting deltaic coastal wetlands have caused the complete loss of some coastal wetland forests and reduced the productivity and vigor of many areas in coastal Louisiana. This loss and degradation threatens ecosystem functions and the services they provide. This paper summarizes ecological relationships controlled by hydrological processes in coastal wetland forests of the Mississippi River delta and presents two case studies that illustrate the complexity of assessing hydrological control on swamp forest establishment and growth. Productivity of overstory trees has been affected by these changes, but the first case study illustrates that the relationship between flooding and growth may be site-specific. An important effect of increased flooding has been to reduce regeneration of swamp forest trees. The second case study is an outline of the kind of hydrological analysis required to assess probability of regeneration success.

SREL Reprint #2962