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Water-level regulation and coastal wetland vegetation in the upper St. Lawrence River: inferences from historical aerial imagery, seed banks, and Typha dynamics

  • ECOSYSTEM STUDIES OF THE ST LAWRENCE RIVER
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Abstract

We evaluated habitat changes of tributary (drowned river mouth) wetlands in the upper St. Lawrence River with analysis of pre-and post-regulation water levels and historical vegetation reconstruction from aerial photographs. In addition, the germination response of transplanted wetland soil was compared to understand responses to moist versus saturated hydrology. Typha stem density was sampled in reference sites under the influence of water-level regulation by the International Joint Commission (IJC) and compared to treatment sites where installed control structures held levels (<0.7 m) higher. Major hydrologic changes due to regulation included a reduction of inter-annual variability with a reduction in peak levels and periodic lows, leading to a dampening of 30–40 year water-level cycles. Wetland photo interpretation indicated that flooded and mixed habitat categories were apparent at all sites for pre-regulation in 1948, but post-regulation photos (1972 and 1994) showed encroachment of robust emergent (Typha angustifolia, T. latifolia, and T. x glauca) in these habitats. Vegetation surveys (7 years, 2001–2007) indicated that reference and treatment sites were dominated by Typha, but mean stem densities were not statistically different. Typha stem density, however, declined in response to decreased summer water level. Periodic summer low water levels coupled with higher winter levels (that promote muskrat activity) were hypothesized to have the greatest effect on reducing Typha density. Seed-bank analysis indicated that a greater diversity of plant species germinated in mesic (moist) conditions than in the saturated treatment (flooded), where Typha was the dominant seedling component. Altered hydrologic regimes and invasive Typha have had a substantial effect on habitat structure within coastal wetlands and inferences from local management of levels provide useful guidance for future system-wide regulation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported primarily by the Great Lakes Protection Fund Grant WR537 and a Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration Grant FA-5-R administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and grants from the International Joint Commission Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Water Levels Study. We thank the numerous volunteers and significant others too numerous to list; without their time and patience, this research would not have been possible. This research is a contribution of the Thousand Islands Biological Station.

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Author notes

  1. Alison Halpern

    Present address: Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, WA, 98504, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    John M. Farrell, Donald J. Leopold, Alison Halpern, Molly Beland Rippke, Kevin S. Godwin & Sasha D. Hafner

  2. Central Michigan University Biological Station and Biology Department, Central Michigan University, 217 Brooks Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA

    Brent A. Murry

  3. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau, Surface Water Assessment Section, 525 Allegan St, Lansing, MI, 48933, USA

    Molly Beland Rippke

  4. Department of Biology, Coastal Carolina University, PO Box 261954, Conway, SC, 29528-6054, USA

    Kevin S. Godwin

  5. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Curtin Road, Bldg. 3702, University Park, PA, 16802-3702, USA

    Sasha D. Hafner

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Correspondence to John M. Farrell.

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Guest editors: M. Power, J. Marty, M. R. Twiss, J. Ridal, Y. de Lafontaine, J. M. Farrell / St. Lawrence River–Great Lakes Ecosystems: An Ecological Overview

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Farrell, J.M., Murry, B.A., Leopold, D.J. et al. Water-level regulation and coastal wetland vegetation in the upper St. Lawrence River: inferences from historical aerial imagery, seed banks, and Typha dynamics. Hydrobiologia 647, 127–144 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-009-0035-z

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