Long-term growth trends of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) rich.) at Caddo Lake, Texas

Wetlands
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Abstract

Caddo Lake, situated on the border of northeast Texas and northwest Louisiana, USA is a medium-sized lake dominated by stands of baldcypress (Taxodiwn distichum). A study of tree growth was initiated at Caddo Lake to address concerns about the health of the baldcypress ecosystem. The lake has been subjected to several dramatic water-level changes over the past 200 years, including water-level stabilization following dam construction in 1914. To assess the long-term growth trends of baldcypress trees and determine if a recent growth decline is occurring at Caddo Lake, increment cores were taken from 52 trees. The cores were crossdated and rings between the years 1900 and 1992 measured to the nearest 0.01 mm. Most cores were characterized by high variation in year-to-year growth. Although increasing growth rates were observed at most locations, trees from two backwater areas of the lake had recent growth rates lower than their long-term average. Growth amounts at these two sites were, however, within the historic range of variation. No recruitment was observed. From these data, we can conclude that the historic, extreme changes in hydrologic regime and the current stabilized water levels have not resulted in an overall decline in baldcypress growth at Caddo Lake.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Long-term growth trends of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) rich.) at Caddo Lake, Texas
Series title Wetlands
DOI 10.1007/BF03161522
Volume 17
Issue 4
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) National Wetlands Research Center
Description 8 p.
First page 559
Last page 566
Country United States
State Texas
Other Geospatial Caddo Lake
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