Classification and description of alluvial plant communities of the North Carolina coastal plain.

摘要

The ecological significance of floodplain forests is well documented. These forests are threatened by hydrologic alteration, fragmentation, and invasive species spread. Quantitative data that represent and summarize the compositional variation in alluvial vegetation are necessary to best protect and manage these forests. In this study, we describe brown-water alluvial plant communities in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, and determine key environmental drivers of vegetation composition. Analyses suggest the recognition of 11 community types nested within 6 broad-scale vegetation types. Broad-scale vegetation types reflect landform and canopy floristics whereas community types are more narrowly defined by floristic variation and subtle environmental differences. For each broad-scale vegetation type and nested community type, we characterize and describe vegetation composition and discuss environmental characteristics. Vegetation patterns on the floodplains of the Coastal Plain of North Carolina are correlated with hydroperiod, soil texture, and soil chemistry.