Does intertidal vegetation indicate specific soil and hydrologic conditions

• Published in: Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.) N.C.), 1996-03, Vol.16 (1), p.89-94
• Main Authors: Hackney, Courtney T., Brady, Susan, Stemmy, Lynn, Boris, Marta, Dennis, Charles, Hancock, Tom, O’Bryon, Mike, Tilton, Crystal, Barbee, Eric
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brackish; Juncus; Juncus roemerianus; Scirpus; Spartina cynosuroides; Typha angustifolia; USA, North Carolina, Cape Fear Estuary
• ISSN: 0277-5212; 1943-6246
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03160649

Six distinct plant zones were identified within a mesohaline tidal marsh in the Cape Fear Estuary, North Carolina, USA. All six vegetative zones were found within an 18-cm portion of the 1.35-m tidal range. Aerial photographs show that these six zones have existed within the marsh for the past 20 years. A monotypic Juncus roemerianus stand occupied soils with the highest salinity porewater (17 ppt), while stands dominated (>90%) by either Scirpus robustus or Typha angustifolia were found associated with the least saline soil water (7 ppt) in areas of the marsh least flooded by tidal waters. Spartina cynosuroides dominated areas of the marsh at lowest elevations. In general, Eh was highest in the Juncus zone and lowest in the Spartina alterniflora zone. Four of the six vegetative zones represented distinct physical and chemical environments and could be statistically separated via canonical discriminate analyses. We suggest that established vegetation may be an accurate analog for specific hydrogeomorphic conditions.