A Tropical freshwater wetland: I. structure, growth, and regeneration

James A. Allen, Ken W. Krauss, Katherine C. Ewel, Bobby D. Keeland, Erick E. Waguk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Forested wetlands dominated by Terminalia carolinensis are endemic to Micronesia but common only on the island of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia. On Kosrae, these forests occur on Nansepsep, Inkosr, and Sonahnpil soil types, which differ in degree of flooding and soil saturation. We compared forest structure, growth, nutrition, and regeneration on two sites each on Nansepsep and Inkosr soils and one site on the much less common Sonahnpil soil type. Terminalia tree sizes were similar on all three soil types, but forests differed in total basal area, species of smaller trees, and total plant species diversity. Terminalia regeneration was found only on the Inkosr soil type, which had the highest water table levels. Other Terminalia species are relatively light demanding, and T. carolinensis exhibited similar characteristics. It is therefore likely that Terminalia requires periodic, but perhaps naturally rare, stand-replacing disturbances (e.g., typhoons) in order to maintain its dominance, except on the wettest sites, where competition from other species is reduced. Terminalia swamps in the Nansepsep soil type appeared to be at the greatest risk of conversion to other uses, but swamps on all three types may face greater pressure as Kosrae's population increases and the island's infrastructure becomes more developed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)657-669
Number of pages13
JournalWetlands Ecology and Management
Volume13
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2005

Keywords

  • Coarse woody debris
  • Dendrometry
  • Disturbance
  • Endemism
  • Fertility
  • Horsfieldia nunu
  • Kosrae
  • Micronesia
  • Soils
  • Species diversity
  • Terminalia carolinensis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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