Thomas W. Doyle
Ken W. Krauss
Brenda L. Thomas
2015
<p><span>The effects of salinity on </span><i class="EmphasisTypeItalic">Taxodium distichum</i><span> seedlings have been well documented, but few studies have examined mature trees in situ. We investigated the environmental drivers of </span><i class="EmphasisTypeItalic">T. distichum</i><span> growth along a salinity gradient on the Waccamaw (South Carolina) and Savannah (Georgia) Rivers. On each river, </span><i class="EmphasisTypeItalic">T. distichum</i><span> increment cores were collected from a healthy upstream site (Upper), a moderately degraded mid-reach site (Middle), and a highly degraded downstream site (Lower). Chronologies were successfully developed for Waccamaw Upper and Middle, and Savannah Middle. Correlations between standardized chronologies and environmental variables showed significant relationships between </span><i class="EmphasisTypeItalic">T. distichum</i><span> growth and early growing season precipitation, temperature, and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Savannah Middle chronology correlated most strongly with August river salinity levels. Both lower sites experienced suppression/release events likely in response to local anthropogenic impacts rather than regional environmental variables. The factors that affect </span><i class="EmphasisTypeItalic">T. distichum</i><span> growth, including salinity, are strongly synergistic. As sea-level rise pushes the freshwater/saltwater interface inland, salinity becomes more limiting to </span><i class="EmphasisTypeItalic">T. distichum</i><span> growth in tidal freshwater swamps; however, salinity impacts are exacerbated by locally imposed environmental modifications.</span></p>
application/pdf
10.1007/s13157-015-0659-x
en
Springer
Annual growth patterns of baldcypress (<i>Taxodium distichum</i>) along salinity gradients
article