Occurrence of jurisdictional wetlands on riverine floodplains along a climatic gradient / by Daniel E. Kroes.
| Author/creator | Kroes, Daniel E. author. |
| Other author | Brinson, Mark M., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 2001. |
| Description | vii, 87 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Subject | The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the occurrence of jurisdictional wetlands in floodplains and the water balance of climate along a humid to arid continuum. Two regions were studied. The first included 36 mid-reach streams encompassing an area from Cope, Colorado to Chariton, Iowa. This region was chosen because of the broad range in potential evapotranspiration (PET) ratio, from 0.70 to 1.75. The second included 16 headwater streams in eastern North Carolina with PET ratios ranging from 0.83 to 0.67. PET ratios were estimated using Holdridge's life zone formula based on precipitation and temperature data at nearby sites. Wetland boundaries were determined using field delineation along transects perpendicular to the direction of stream flow. The width of jurisdictional wetlands was compared with flood-prone width (FPW) and expressed as a percent. Streams with a PET ratio greater than 0.98 did not have wetlands associated with them. PET ratio was the most important factor in wetland and vegetation occurrence. Soil texture, duration of overbank flow, and stream order did not correlate with percentage of FPW that was wetland. An increase in PET ratio resulted in an exponential decrease in the percentage of the FPW that is wetland. Greater channel cross-sectional areas correlated with greater wetland widths in both study regions. As the precipitation in the central plains decreased, the number of prevalent woody species decreased. In North Carolina the number of prevalent woody species decreased as the PET ratio decreased. Hydrologic sources differ between the central plain floodplains and those of the North Carolina floodplains. North Carolina coastal plain riparian wetlands are formed and maintained by groundwater. Increasing stream order corresponds to wetter conditions on the floodplain. In the central plains, the exponential trend in the percentage of the FPW that is wetland indicates positive feedback between groundwater and streamflow. Wetland status of riparian floodplains the central plains relies upon this feedback. |
| General note | Submitted to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Mark M. Brinson |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 2001 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-72). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |