Effects of flooding on ion exchange rates in an Upper Mississippi River floodplain forest impacted by herbivory, invasion, and restoration

Wetlands
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
By: , and 

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Abstract

We examined effects of flooding on supply rates of 14 nutrients in floodplain areas invaded by Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass), areas restored to young successional forests (browsed by white-tailed deer and unbrowsed), and remnant mature forests in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain. Plant Root Simulator ion-exchange probes were deployed for four separate 28-day periods. The first deployment occurred during flooded conditions, while the three subsequent deployments were conducted during progressively drier periods. Time after flooding corresponded with increases in NO3 -N, K+ and Zn+2, decreases in H2PO4 -P, Fe+3, Mn+2, and B(OH)4-B, a decrease followed by an increase in NH4 +-N, Ca+2, Mg+2 and Al+3, and an increase followed by a decrease for SO4 −2-S. Plant community type had weak to no effects on nutrient supply rates compared to the stronger effects of flooding duration. Our results suggest that seasonal dynamics in floodplain nutrient availability are similarly driven by flood pulses in different community types. However, reed canarygrass invasion has potential to increase availability of some nutrients, while restoration of forest cover may promote recovery of nutrient availability to that observed in reference mature forests.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Effects of flooding on ion exchange rates in an Upper Mississippi River floodplain forest impacted by herbivory, invasion, and restoration
Series title Wetlands
DOI 10.1007/s13157-015-0675-x
Volume 35
Issue 5
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher Society of Wetland Scientists
Publisher location McClean, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description 8 p.
First page 1005
Last page 1012
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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