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Plant colonization on a newly restored floodplain of the Kissimmee River, Florida

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Date Issued:
2001
Summary:
This study focused on whether wetland vegetation could become re-established on a newly restored floodplain of the Kissimmee River if seasonal floodplain inundation were re-established. The wetland was re-created by back-filling a section of the Kissimmee Canal and diverting water flow into remnant river meanders. Seasonal flooding did occur during the study period. There were no other interventions to promote wetland plant growth. Ten vegetation quadrats were stratified between the back-filled canal and adjacent floodplain. These quadrats were monitored for 11 months. Of the 68 plant species recorded, 72% were obligate, facultative wetland or aquatic species. Diversity, richness, and percent cover of wetland plants increased with time. Coverage of broadleaf marsh habitat increased with increasing water depths. Vegetation at the end of the study period was similar to pre-channelized estimates. Restoration of hydrologic fluctuations appears sufficient to re-establish wetland habitat in this area of the Kissimmee River basin.
Title: Plant colonization on a newly restored floodplain of the Kissimmee River, Florida.
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Name(s): Pinneo, Janet R.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Gallagher, Jacqueline, Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2001
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 76 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: This study focused on whether wetland vegetation could become re-established on a newly restored floodplain of the Kissimmee River if seasonal floodplain inundation were re-established. The wetland was re-created by back-filling a section of the Kissimmee Canal and diverting water flow into remnant river meanders. Seasonal flooding did occur during the study period. There were no other interventions to promote wetland plant growth. Ten vegetation quadrats were stratified between the back-filled canal and adjacent floodplain. These quadrats were monitored for 11 months. Of the 68 plant species recorded, 72% were obligate, facultative wetland or aquatic species. Diversity, richness, and percent cover of wetland plants increased with time. Coverage of broadleaf marsh habitat increased with increasing water depths. Vegetation at the end of the study period was similar to pre-channelized estimates. Restoration of hydrologic fluctuations appears sufficient to re-establish wetland habitat in this area of the Kissimmee River basin.
Identifier: 9780493407357 (isbn), 12844 (digitool), FADT12844 (IID), fau:9718 (fedora)
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2001.
Subject(s): Plant colonization--Florida--Kissimmee River Watershed
Floodplain ecology--Florida--Kissimmee River Watershed
Restoration ecology--Florida--Kissimmee River Watershed
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12844
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.