Grantee Research Project Results
2000 Progress Report: Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Restoration: Monitoring Ecosystem Services and Self Maintenance
EPA Grant Number: R825799Title: Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Restoration: Monitoring Ecosystem Services and Self Maintenance
Investigators: Atkinson, Robert B.
Institution: Christopher Newport University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: June 1, 1998 through May 31, 2001
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2000
Project Amount: $700,000
RFA: Ecosystem Restoration (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
Atlantic White Cedar (AWC) swamps were first thought to be at risk of disappearing in 1748, but the serious decline occurred in the 20th century. Virginia and North Carolina have now lost well over 90 percent of the original acreage and the Nature Conservancy considers AWC swamps to be a "globally threatened ecosystem." The primary objectives of this study are to provide decision-makers with useful feedback from previous and ongoing AWC swamp restoration and management, and to bridge existing and future scientific understanding of natural and restored AWC swamps.Progress Summary:
There are three initiatives in our research effort: a carbon model, ecosystem attributes, and the history of restored, managed, and natural AWC swamps. Field work includes eight study sites that represent a chronosequence of three age classes.
The carbon model is important because AWC swamps in the Mid-Atlantic region accumulate peat and often grow on top of peat that is 2-3 meters thick. The risk of not accumulating peat is two-fold: (1) moist peat protects the seed pool from fire and facilitates natural regeneration (self-maintenance), and (2) peat represents a storehouse of carbon that, if released, would contribute to the greenhouse gas problem.
Ecosystem attributes of natural AWC swamps and other sites must be understood to plan restoration and management and to monitor success. These include biotic parameters such as bird, amphibian, reptile, and small mammal richness; plant richness, dominance, importance values, and weighted average; and growth and survivorship of AWC seedlings. Abiotic characteristics include soil and water nutrient content and pH; hydrology and elevation; and soil physical parameters.
The history of this ecosystem and the dominant tree are relevant for both science and policy. If we know when ditches were dug and trees were harvested, we can gain insight into why AWC regenerated in some places and not in others. The place-based focus of restoration addresses the question of why we should restore and manage for AWC swamps. We are studying maps, old and recent books, museum contents and records, timber industry corporate memos, personal interviews, and various Internet sources. We hope to understand what would be lost if the ecosystem goes extinct, and what may be gained by sound application of this and other AWC studies.
The Carbon Model. The carbon model is being generated using both carbon gain and carbon loss within each of the eight sites. Carbon gain via primary production is being measured above ground by Dr. Atkinson and below ground by Dr. Frank Day (Old Dominion University). Carbon loss is being estimated using soil respiration of carbon dioxide and methane, as modified through calculation of root respiration (Dr. Whiting, Christopher Newport University). Carbon loss is also being estimated via decomposition of above and below ground organic matter (Dr. Day).
All of the field site carbon studies are more than 85 percent complete and analysis is underway. We added and completed several lab microcosm studies to aid interpretation of the field data that is underway.
Ecosystem Attributes. Broader ecosystem attributes of natural AWC swamps are being conducted by Dr. Atkinson. Most of these investigations required less setup time than carbon model studies and all data gathering is complete except for reptile, amphibian, and small mammals censusing. Data analysis is underway.
History. Data is being collected for AWC history by Dr. Atkinson and Dr. Tim Morgan (Christopher Newport University). Sources used thus far include maps, museums, timber industry corporate memos, personal interviews, and various internet sources.
Future Activities:
We are finishing data collection, continuing with data analysis and preparation of publications, and reviewing and editing symposium papers for the proceedings document. We expect to meet the target date for the final report.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 38 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
risk assessment, wetlands, policy, forested wetlands, canonical correspondence analysis., RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, Restoration, Ecological Indicators, Ecological Risk Assessment, State, Ecosystem Protection, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Watersheds, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Monitoring/Modeling, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Hydrology, Nutrients, Water & Watershed, Environmental Monitoring, Atlantic Whaite Cedar Swamp, biodiversity, water quality, risk assessment, hydrologic alteration, watershed restoration, aquatic ecosystem, decision matrix, monitoring, South Carolina (SC), soil nutrient flux, groundwater recharge, wetlands, groundwater, hydrological stability, North Carolina (NC), aquatic ecosystems, atmospheric gas, forest ecosystem, nutrient transport, ecosystem restoration, conservation, decision making, ecological recovery, reforestation, Virginia (VA)Relevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.