Monday, 6 October 2008: 4:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center, 362F

Hannon A. Didier, Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, Washington Hall, West Point, NY 10996, Afghanistan, John R. White, Dept. of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute, Energy Coast & Env Building #3239, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, Kevin S. McCarter, Experimental Statistics, Louisiana State University, 161 Agricultural Bld, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 and Irving A. Mendelssohn, Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, E C & E Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Coastal restoration in Louisiana has assumed greater importance in the wake of recent severe hurricane landfalls. One area slated for restoration is the Caminda-Moreau maritime beach ridge complex, a series of westard-trending parallel ridge sets formed during the Mississippi River Lafourche delta cycle. Elevation data was gathered with survey-grade differential GPS techniques and 30 cm surface soil samples were collected at 103 locations varying in elevation from 2.3 – 80.5 cm (NAVD 88). Dominance data was used to produce a relevant species list and plotted against elevation in five elevation catagories. Elevation was significantly correlated to a number of soil properties including total C, N, P, salinity, organic matter, pH and bulk density. Herbaceous species dominance decreased with increasing elevation and shrub dominance increased. Live trees were only present in the highest elevation category. Results suggest as coupled subsidence and increasing sea level continue, vegetation will continue to shift to more salt-tolerant herbaceous species with a loss of ecosystem complexity unless restoration efforts input sediment to increase elevation to overcome rising sea level.

See more of: Wetland Soil Carbon Pools and Fluxes (includes Graduate Student Competition)
See more of: S10 Wetland Soils

2008 Joint Annual Meeting (5-9 Oct. 2008): Elevation Controls on Soil Properties and Vegetation Within a Gulf Coast Beach Ridge Complex.

604-8 Elevation Controls on Soil Properties and Vegetation Within a Gulf Coast Beach Ridge Complex.