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Riparian forest communities of the lower Kaskaskia River bottoms

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Hydrologic alterations due to dam construction may have altered the floodplain ecology of the Lower Kaskaskia River. Seven forest communities within the study site were identified. Floodplain communities include Acer negundo-Celtis occidentalis-Acer saccharinum, Acer saccharinum-Acer negundo, and Celtis occidentalis-Ulmus americana. Quercus and Carya species were found in both floodplain and upland areas. Quercus stellata flats and Acer saccharum occupied upland portions of the study site. This community similarity analysis provides a basis for further research on the effects of flood duration, timing, and depth on the current and historical riparian forest community.

Parent Publication

Citation

Romano, Susan P.; Zaczek, James J.; Williard, Karl W. J.; Baer, Sara; Carver, Andrew D.; Mangun, Jean C. 2003. Riparian forest communities of the lower Kaskaskia River bottoms. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 159-166
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/15738