Cattail Communities Research Articles

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHOOT DAMAGE AND FLOOD TOLERANCE IN SOUTHERN CATTAIL

Recent climate change has caused water level fluctuations in freshwater bodies to become more intense, making it difficult to conserve large aquatic plant communities. Physiological characterization for recovery is important and can be applied to overgrowth. Southern cattail (Typha domingensis) communities contribute to biodiversity and help to purify water. However, overcrowded southern cattail communities become a nuisance to local people as they often block waterways. Proper management is therefore required to control southern cattail communities for optimization of their benefits. In the present study, we investigated the effect of shoot damage treatment on flood tolerance during the vigorous growth stage which occurs in summer. First, as shoots are damaged by bending or cutting when disturbed under natural conditions, damage treatments were carried out by either cutting or bending the plant shoots at 10 cm above the ground surface. The results showed that bending the shoot had the same or greater inhibitory effect as cutting. Second, the shoots were then cut at a height of 10 cm above the ground surface at the start of the experiment and placed in five different water depth conditions from the ground surface to the water surface. As a result, the maximum depth at which damaged shoots displayed considerable growth was 40 cm. Undamaged plants with a shoot length of about 75 cm displayed considerable growth in water depths of up to 60 cm. These information are useful for management of T. domingensis communities for both of control and conservation.

Analysis of the plant N and P sequestration from common reed and common reed+ cattail communities in wetland soil in Qinhu Lake of northern Jiangsu, China

湿地土壤是湿地生态系统固持氮（N）、磷（P）的重要库，水生高等植物在湿地土壤固持N、P过程中起到了非常重要的作用.本研究采用室外取样与室内实验结合的方法，对溱湖湿地两种主要湿地类型（芦苇（Phragmites australis）群落和芦苇＋香蒲（Typha latifolia）群落）影响湿地土壤N、P固持过程的规律展开研究.分析了芦苇、香蒲各器官生物量和总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）含量及储量对于土壤各土层TN和TP含量的影响.结果显示：（1）溱湖湿地对于水体TN和TP有一定的削减作用，且对TN的削减作用更大；（2）芦苇可以增强湿地土壤（30 cm以下的土层）富集N的效率，并且芦苇＋香蒲群落中土壤固N效率更高，芦苇植株内TN和TP储量都是根 > 茎 > 叶 > 穗，而香蒲则是根 > 穗 > 茎 > 叶；（3）芦苇和香蒲茎、叶器官的TN和TP含量在夏季均显著高于其他几个季节，尤其是芦苇茎的TN含量在夏季高出其他几个季节70%~84%，而TP含量甚至高出其他几个季节81%~92%；（4）芦苇、香蒲对于P贫瘠的响应机制不同，导致芦苇会消耗土壤P，而香蒲的介入可以抵消这一消耗过程.因此，芦苇＋香蒲的植物配置模式可以提高湿地土壤固持N、P的综合效率.;Wetland soil is a significant pool of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) sequestration in the wetland ecosystem in which the aquatic higher plants plays an important role. Field sampling and indoor analysis were conducted by two communities of the common reed (Phragmites australis) & the common reed + cattail (Typha latifolia) from Qinhu Lake wetland to enhance our understanding of the immobilization of N & P in the soil. Organs biomass of common reed & cattail, contents of total nitrogen (TN) & total phosphorus (TP) and their impacts on soil TN & TP contents were analyzed. Results showed that (1) consumption effect of Qinhu Lake wetland on soluble TN and TP was observed, especially a bigger effect on TN. (2) Common reed could enhance the efficiency of N enrichment in wetland soil (below 30 cm soil layer) and the effect is much higher than that in common reed + cattail community. Order of the TN and TP storage from high to low in the organs of common reed was root>stem>leaf>spike, while the order in cattail was root>spike>stem>leaf. (3) TN and TP contents in the stem and leaf of the common reed and cattail in the summer were higher than other seasons significantly, while TN content of common reed stems in the summer was 70%-84% higher and TP content was 81%-92% higher than other seasons. (4) The common reed would consume soil P when cattail would offset P because of the different mechanism response to P limitation. Therefore, the configuration mode of common reed + cattail could improve the efficiency of N and P sequestration of the wetland soil.

Influence of macrophytes on phosphorus fractionation in surface sediments in a constructed wetland: Insight from sediment compositions

The effect of two widely distributed macrophytes, reed and cattail, on phosphorus fractionations (PFs) of surface sediments distributions from a near-nature constructed wetland were studied in both autumn and spring. The results showed that the average values of PFs in the sediments were ranked in the order of Ca-P>Org-P>Al-P≈Fe-P>Ex-P>O-P. The mobile PFs, such as Al-P, Fe-P, Ex-P and Org-P influenced the TP concentrations in macrophytes free area. Only Ca-P was related with TP in macrophytes covered area, indicating the P stability of reed community sediment (RCS) and cattail community sediment (CCS). The other compositions of sediments, i.e. organic matter (OM), alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), and active-Fe were greatly decreased in the presence of macrophytes, while active-Al were slightly increased. OM and active-Al were found to be more significant related with PFs in OWS and RCS, while APA and active-Fe were related with PFs in the macrophytes covered sediments. Therefore, macrophytes induced the variation of sediment compositions and further influenced the distributions and stabilization of PFs. Moreover, cattail community performed better in declining the sediment compositions, P accumulation and its release.

Using landscape context to map invasive species with medium‐resolution satellite imagery

The spread of invasive species is a global problem of major ecological and economic concern. Landscape level assessment of invasive spread is critical, but remote sensing (RS) analyses are often complicated by the spectral similarity of species and the need to balance spatial resolution with data storage and analysis complexity. One example is the ridge and slough landscape (RSL) of the Florida Everglades, where inflowing nutrients have facilitated large‐scale cattail invasions. Hand delineation of aerial imagery has been successful in mapping cattail spread, but this technique requires considerable time and effort. Computerized classification of medium‐resolution imagery would increase the ability of scientists to provide up‐to‐date data for water management decisions. Advances in RS technologies have created opportunities that were not previously available in landscapes such as the RSL—to automatically classify sawgrass and cattail communities with medium‐resolution satellite imagery using knowledge of the invasion ecology of cattail and landscape context. We developed a computer‐classification technique that provided measure of cattail expansion that matched ground‐truthed data and show an increase in cattail area (similar to previous estimates), but a reduction in the rate of expansion over time. Although this technique can miss small patches of plants that might indicated new invasions, its rapid mapping can improve tracking of invasion fronts in the Everglades and other landscapes.

Use of an abandoned gravel-pit in inland Spain as a stopover site for the Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola

Stopover sites are of vital importance for migrating birds, especially long-distance migrant species. This study describes a wetland in NW Spain, as a particular habitat used by the Aquatic Warbler, one of the most threatened passeriformes in Europe, during postnuptial migration. It is a recently abandoned gravel-pit with an artificial water regime, a large area of standing water and a mosaic of vegetation predominated by a rush-meadow of Juncus effusus and a cattail community of Typha domingensis, a priori very favourable conditions for the Aquatic Warbler. The Acrola index value for this locality is very high, and together with some of the results including mean stopover period, fattening rate, interannual site fidelity and calculated potential flight distances, indicates that the mosaic of plant communities offers good conditions as a refuelling site for the Aquatic Warbler. Nevertheless, in only 3 years a process of homogenization has been observed in the vegetation, where rush-meadow cover has decreased noticeably and cattail and willow cover have increased. This process caused a decrease in the Acrola index throughout 2008–2010, as well as a significant decrease in the importance of this wetland with regard to others in Spain. Significant differences were found in body condition between the two age groups: adults are heavier and obtain more body fat, which provides them with greater potential flight autonomy. Although gravel pits can act as alternative wetlands, rapid changes in plant communities succession requires more active management than in the case of natural wetlands.

Modeling ecosystem responses to prescribed fires in a phosphorus-enriched Everglades wetland: I. Phosphorus dynamics and cattail recovery

We have developed and applied a process-based model, the Wetland Ecosystem Model (WEM), to evaluate the effects of a prescribed fire on the phosphorus (P) dynamics and cattail ( Typha domingensis) growth in a P-enriched area in the Florida Everglades. The WEM couples major ecosystem processes including carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and P biogeochemical cycles, plant growth, hydrology, and fire disturbance. The model is used to assess the effects of a prescribed fire on P dynamics and cattail growth through dynamic interaction among four modules: fire, water chemistry, soil, and vegetation. The simulation results are in agreement with observed data including cattail above- and belowground biomass and dead mass, P concentration in surface-water, pore-water, and soil, and soil and water temperature. Cattail aboveground biomass reached the unburned level one year after burn; belowground biomass recovered to unburned level one and half years after the fire, however, dead mass did not completely reach unburned level two years after fires. The fire increased water and soil temperatures in the short term, while indirectly increasing the sensitivity of water and soil temperature post-fire response to air temperature by altering the energy exchange between air and water through a canopy gap created by fire. The fire also altered the P dynamics in surface-water and pore-water. A post-fire P pulse that lasted for less than one month was observed in surface-water. A similar P pulse, but in a small magnitude and a longer duration, was also observed in the pore-water total phosphorus (TP), and then came back to normal level after approximately three months. No significant changes in soil TP was observed during the study period. Meanwhile, no significant changes in water nutrients were observed downstream of the study plot. This finding indicated that the P-enriched wetlands in Everglades act as a buffer in regulating the P concentration in surface-water. Our study showed that the distance of fire effects on a 300 m × 300 m plot was less than 300 m downstream. Sensitivity analysis identified that the air temperature and hydrological conditions are two important driving factors which may alter the cattail community dynamics in response to prescribed fires. Similar to the filed studies, this study provided evidences that fire played an important role in managing plant growth and P dynamics in the Florida Everglades.

Effects of 4 years of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on Everglades plant communities

Nitrogen (5.6 and 22.4 g m −2 per year) and phosphorus (0.6, 1.2, and 4.8 g m −2 per year) were applied to Everglades plant communities (sawgrass, mixed sawgrass–cattail, slough) to evaluate the effects of nutrient additions on biomass production, photosynthesis, N and P uptake, and species composition. After 2 years, additions of P alone and N+P at a rate of 4.8 g P m −2 per year resulted in a two- to three-fold increase in biomass at the sawgrass and mixed sawgrass–cattail communities. Additions of P and N+P also increased sawgrass and cattail leaf area index (LAI) two to nine times, resulting in an increase in biomass and ground area photosynthesis. In the slough community, additions of P at the highest rate (4.8 g m −2 per year) resulted in a 90% loss of the Utricularia–periphyton complex after 1 year, with a concurrent increase of the macroalgae, Chara. After 4 years of P addition at the highest rate, we observed an enrichment of soil easily exchangeable inorganic P and organic P in the sawgrass and slough sites, Fe- and Al-bound inorganic P (sawgrass only), and Ca-bound inorganic P (slough only). There appeared to be cumulative P loading at 10 g m −2, above which there was no additional increase in biomass production or tissue P uptake by emergent vegetation. However, cumulative P loading of only 5 g m −2 resulted in near elimination of the Utricularia–periphyton complex. Our results suggest that P loadings alter the Everglades plant communities through increased plant productivity, tissue P storage, soil P enrichment, and shifts in plant species composition (e.g. replacement of the Utricularia–periphyton complex by Chara). Management policies for protecting the Everglades must consider cumulative effects of nutrient loadings, especially P, on changes in native plant communities and enrichment of the soil.

Biomass and nutrient allocation of sawgrass and cattail along a nutrient gradient in the Florida Everglades

Biomass and nutrient allocation in sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense Crantz) and cattail (Typha domingensis Pers.) were examined along a nutrient gradient in the Florida Everglades in 1994. This north to south nutrient gradient, created by discharging nutrient-rich agricultural runoff into the northern region of Water Conservatio ea 2A, was represented by three areas (impacted, transitional and reference). Contrasting changes of plant density and size along the gradient were found for communities of both species. For the sawgrass community, more small plants were found in ref ce areas, whereas few large plants were found in impacted areas. In contrast, for the cattail community, bigger plants were found in reference areas, and smaller plants were found in impacted areas. Both species allocated approximately 60% of their total biomass to leaves and 40% to belowground tissues. However, sawgrass biomass allocation to leaves, roots, shoot bases and rhizomes (65%, 19%, 11%, and 5%, respectively) was similar among the three areas. In contrast, cattail plants growing in referen reas showed higher root allocation (27.3%), but lower leaf allocation (51.1%) than those growing in impacted areas (14.6% and 65.8% for root and leaf allocation, respectively). Cattail had higher phosphorus concentrations than sawgrass in tissues associated with growth functions (leaves, roots, and rhizomes). In contrast, sawgrass had higher phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations than cattail in tissues primarily associated with resource storage (shoot bases). From impacted to reference areas, for sawgrass, there was a decrease of leaf TP from 605 to 248 (mg/kg), root TP from 698 to 181 (mg/kg), rhizome TP from 1,139 to 142 (mg/kg), and shoot base TP from 5,412 to 400 to (mg/kg). For cattail, leaf TP decreased from 1,175 to 556 (mg/kg), root TP de sed from 1,100 to 798 (mg/kg), rhizome TP decreased from 1390 to 380 (mg/kg), and shoot base TP decreased from 2,990 to 433 (mg/kg). N/P ratios of sawgrass in reference areas were 27, 63, 38, and 50 for leaves, roots, rhizomes, and shoot bases, respectively, whereas in impacted areas they were 11, 21, 6, and 2, respectively. The greatest TP storage was found in impacted areas. Differences in seed output, seed number, and mean seed weight were found for both species as well. Each cattail flower stalk duced approximately 105 tiny seeds (0.048 ± 0.001 mg) while each sawgrass flower stalk produced about 103 large seeds (3.13 ± 0.005 mg). These results suggest that phosphorus is a limiting resource in the Everglades and that the two species have different life history strategies. These data provide an ecological basis for making informed management and planning decisions to protect and restore the Everglades.

Grass Carp as a Potential Control Agent for Cattails

Grass Carp as a Potential Control Agent for Cattails

Microbiological Studies of Arctic Soils

EcologyVolume 39, Issue 2 p. 332-336 Article Microbiological Studies of Arctic Soils William L. Boyd, William L. BoydSearch for more papers by this author William L. Boyd, William L. BoydSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 April 1958 https://doi.org/10.2307/1931879Citations: 15AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume39, Issue2April 1958Pages 332-336 RelatedInformation

A Phytosociological and Ecological Study of Cattail Stands in Oakland County, Michigan

The main purpose of this paper is the study of the objectivity of the concept of 'association' as used by the majority of modern ecologists and the 'individualistic association' concept proposed by Gleason. The cattail community was chosen because of its wide distribution (it is expected to apply the same methods of study to the cattail stands of south-eastern Brazil), and relatively simple structure and floristic composition. It is a type of community that seems obviously definite, the many stands of which form a good example of the community type in the thinking of most ecologists. It is, therefore, a good subject for investigation of association homogeneity and the question of the objective reality of the association. The area of the present study was limited to a single county, eliminating the factor of geographic variation that would be encountered were a larger area surveyed. The author is most grateful to Dr Stanley A. Cain under whose direction this investigation was made, for his encouragement and help, and to the Cranbrook Institute of Science for facilities made available to him; to Miss Marion F. Hesz and Mr Floyd W. Bunt for their co-operation on field work; to Mr Paul W. Thompson and Mr Dale Hagenah for their aid in the identification of certain plants and, finally, to Mrs Eugene Hesz for her work with the manuscript and Mr Walter P. Nickell for the photographs.