Assessing the impact of tidal flooding and salinity on long-term growth of baldcypress under changing climate and riverflow

Abstract

Successful restoration of coastal wetlands depends mostly on the proper understanding of the physical environment and the ecological requirements and tolerances of eligible and expected biota, in situ or introduced. Tidal freshwater forested wetlands present a challenging coastal habitat that undergoes daily, seasonal, decadal, and even millennial cycles of environmental change that dictate the distribution and migration of this forest type over time and space. The potential extent of tidal freshwater forested wetlands within any given estuary is related to river gradient and flow coupled with tidal range and forcing that increase river stage and surface water salinities many km upstream. The response of individual trees to changing hydroperiod and salinity affected by tides is related to their species tolerance and to the degree of acute or chronic exposure. Tidal freshwater forested wetlands are composed of tree species that are nonhalophytic, unlike mangroves, but can survive low salt concentrations for long periods or modest salt levels for short durations to varying degrees. Improving our understanding of physical processes of these coastal systems and biological attributes of associated species will improve our ability to plan and predict the outcome of protected and restored wetlands along our coasts. © 2007 Springer.