Skip to main content

Relationship Between Woody Plant Colonization and Typha L. Encroachment in Stormwater Detention Basins

Environmental Management volume 52, pages 861–876 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

We studied stormwater detention basins where woody vegetation removal was suspended for 2 years in Virginia, USA to determine if woody vegetation can control Typha populations and how early woody plant succession interacts with Typha, other herbaceous vegetation, and site factors. Distribution and composition of woody vegetation, Typha and non-Typha herbaceous vegetation biomass, and site factors were assessed at 100 plots in four basins ranging in age from 7 to 17 years. A greenhouse study examined the interaction of shade and soil moisture on Typha biomass and persistence. Principal component analysis identified an environmental gradient associated with greater water table depths and decreased elevation that favored Typha but negatively influenced woody vegetation. Elevation was correlated with litter layer distribution, suggesting that initial topography influences subsequent environmental characteristics and thus plant communities. Soil organic matter at 0–10 cm ranged from 5.4 to 12.7 %. Woody plants present were native species with the exception of Ailanthus altissima and Pyrus calleryana. In the greenhouse, shade and reduced soil moisture decreased Typha biomass and rhizome length. The shade effect was strongest in flooded plants and the soil moisture effect was strongest for plants in full sun. Typha in dry soil and heavy shade had 95 % less total biomass and 83 % smaller rhizomes than Typha in flooded soil and full sun, but even moderate soil moisture reductions decreased above- and below-ground biomass by 63 and 56 %, respectively. Suspending maintenance allows restoration of woody vegetation dominated by native species and may suppress Typha invasion.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Allison RA, Chiew FHS, McMahon TA (1998) Nutrient contribution of leaf litter in urban stormwater. J Environ Manag 54(4):269–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asaeda T, Hai DN, Manatunge J, Williams D, Roberts J (2005) Latitudinal characteristics of below- and above-ground biomass of Typha: a modelling approach. Ann Bot 96(2):299–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Backstrom M, Malmqvist PA, Viklander M (2002) Stormwater management in a catchbasin perspective: best practices or sustainable strategies? Water Sci Technol 46(6–7):159–166

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ballantine K, Schneider R (2009) Fifty-five years of soil development in restored freshwater depressional wetlands. Ecol Appl 19(6):1467–1480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartens J, Day SD, Harris JR, Dove JE, Wynn TM (2008) Can urban tree roots improve infiltration through compacted subsoils for stormwater management? J Environ Qual 37(6):2048–2057

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd CE, Hess LW (1970) Factors influencing shoot production and mineral nutrient levels in Typha latifolia. Ecology 51(2):296–300

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran MK, Gray DH, Biedenharn DS, Little CD, Leech JR, Pinkard F, Bailey P, Lee LT (2010) Literature review: vegetation on levees, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Washington DC. Water Resources Infrastructure. ERDC SR-10-2

  • Dulohery CJ, Kolka RK, McKevlin MR (2000) Effects of a willow overstory on planted seedlings in a bottomland restoration. Ecol Eng 15:S57–S66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emerson CH, Traver RG (2008) Multiyear and seasonal variation of infiltration from storm-water best management practices. J Irrig Drain Eng 134(5):598–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrer EC, Goldberg DE (2009) Litter drives ecosystem and plant community changes in cattail invasion. Ecol Appl 19(2):398–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galatowitsch S, Anderson N, Ascher P (1999) Invasiveness in wetland plants in temperate North America. Wetlands 19(4):733–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grace JB (1989) Effects of water depth on Typha latifolia and Typha domingensis. Am J Bot 76(5):762–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grace JB, Wetzel RG (1981) Habitat partitioning and competitive displacement in cattails (Typha): experimental field studies. Am Nat 118(4):463–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grace JB, Wetzel RG (1982) Niche differentiation between two rhizomatous plant species: Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia. Can J Bot 60(1):46–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groninger JW, Seiler JR, Peterson JA, Kreh RE (1996) Growth and photosynthetic responses for four Virginia Piedmont tree species to shade. Tree Physiol 16:773–778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Havens KJ, Priest IIIWI, Berquist H (1997) Investigation and long-term monitoring of Phragmites australis within Virginia’s constructed wetland sites. Environ Manag 21(4):599–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hogan DM, Walbridge MR (2007) Best management practices for nutrient and sediment retention in urban stormwater runoff. J Environ Qual 36(2):386–395

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hogan D, Jordan T, Walbridge M (2004) Phosphorus retention and soil organic carbon in restored and natural freshwater wetlands. Wetlands 24(3):573–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt WF, Apperson CS, Kennedy SG, Harrison BA, Lord WG (2006) Occurrence and relative abundance of mosquitoes in stormwater retention facilities in North Carolina, USA. Water Sci Technol 54(6–7):315–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson DA (1993) Stopping rules in principal components-analysis: a comparison of heuristic and statistical approaches. Ecology 74(8):2204–2214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiannino JA, Walton WE (2004) Evaluation of vegetation management strategies for controlling mosquitoes in a southern California constructed wetland. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 20(1):18–26

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MS, Lehmann J (2006) Double-funneling of trees: stemflow and root-induced preferential flow. Ecoscience 13(3):324–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer PJ, Boyer JS (1995) Water relations of plants and soils. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Lechowicz MJ (1995) Seasonality of flowering and fruiting in temperate forest trees. Can J Bot 73(2):175–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li SW, Pezeshki SR, Goodwin S (2004) Effects of soil moisture regimes on photosynthesis and growth in cattail (Typha latifolia). Acta Oecol 25(1–2):17–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li MH, Barrett ME, Rammohan P, Olivera F, Landphair HC (2008) Documenting stormwater quality on Texas highways and adjacent vegetated roadsides. J Environ Eng ASCE 134(1):48–59

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Sharkey LJ, Hunt WF, Davis AP (2009) Mitigation of impervious surface hydrology using bioretention in North Carolina and Maryland. J Hydrol Eng 14(4):407–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsalek J, Chocat B (2002) International report: stormwater management. Water Sci Technol 46(6–7):1–17

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell K, Johnson GN (2000) Chlorophyll fluorescence: a practical guide. J Exp Bot 51(345):659–668

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazer G, Booth D, Ewing K (2001) Limitations to vegetation establishment and growth in biofiltration swales. Ecol Eng 17(4):429–443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLeod KW, Reed MR, Nelson EA (2001) Influence of a willow canopy on tree seedling establishment for wetland restoration. Wetlands 21(3):395–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNaughton SJ (1966) Ecotype function in the Typha community-type. Ecol Monogr 36(4):298–325

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson G, Simpson JR, Peper PJ, Maco SE, Xiao QF (2005) Municipal forest benefits and costs in five US cities. J For 103(8):411–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Morin X, Lechowicz MJ, Augspurger C, O’Keefe J, Viner D, Chuine I (2009) Leaf phenology in 22 North American tree species during the 21st century. Glob Change Biol 15(4):961–975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muthukrishnan S, Selvakumar A (2006) Evaluation of retention pond and constructed wetland BMPs for treating particulate-bound heavy metals in urban stormwater runoff. In: World environmental and water resources congress 2006, ASCE, pp 1–11

  • Pelletier B, Fyles JW, Dutilleul P (1999) Tree species control and spatial structure of forest floor properties in a mixed-species stand. Ecoscience 6(1):79–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Pouliot R, Rochefort L, Karofeld E (2011) Initiation of microtopography in revegetated cutover peatlands. Appl Veg Sci 14:158–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shammaa Y, Zhu DZ, Gyurek LL, Labatiuk CW (2002) Effectiveness of dry ponds for stormwater total suspended solids removal. Can J Civ Eng 29(2):316–324

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shields FD, Gray DH (1992) Effects of woody vegetation on sandy levee integrity. Water Resour Bull 28(5):917–931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Starzec P, Lind BOB, Lanngren A, Lindgren A, Svenson T (2005) Technical and environmental functioning of detention ponds for the treatment of highway and road runoff. Water Air Soil Pollut 163(1–4):153–167

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Riekerk H, Kornhak LV (2000) Ground-water-table rise after forest harvesting on cypress-pine flatwoods in Florida. Wetlands 20(1):101–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taebi A, Droste RL (2004) First flush pollution load of urban stormwater runoff. J Environ Eng Sci 3(4):301–309

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toth LA, Galloway JP (2009) Clonal expansion of cattail (Typha domingensis) in Everglades stormwater treatment areas: implications for alternative management strategies. J Aquat Plant Manag 47:151–155

    Google Scholar 

  • United States Army Corps Engineers (2000) Engineering and design guidelines for landscape planting and vegetation management at floodwalls, levees, and embankment dams. Washington, DC. EM 1110-2-301

  • USDA Forest Service Southern Region (1986) Service foresters handbook. Atlanta, GA. R8-MR 11

  • Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (1999) Virginia stormwater management handbook. Richmond, VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Weihe PE, Neely RK (1997) The effects of shading on competition between purple loosestrife and broad-leaved cattail. Aquat Bot 59(1–2):127–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss JD, Hondzo M, Semmens M (2006) Storm water detention ponds: modeling heavy metal removal by plant species and sediments. J Environ Eng ASCE 132(9):1034–1042

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y-J, Burger JA, Michael Aust W, Patterson SC, Miwa M, Preston DP (2002) Changes in surface water table depth and soil physical properties after harvest and establishment of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) in Atlantic coastal plain wetlands of South Carolina. Soil Tillage Res 63(3–4):109–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was supported in part by the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Edna Bailey Sussman Fund. Additional support was provided by the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. We thank Brain Waymack, Morris Walton, and Molly Morrison for assistance in locating and accessing study plots and obtaining necessary permissions. We are also grateful for the contributions of two anonymous reviewers who helped to improve the manuscript.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech, 228 Cheatham Hall (0324), Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Priscilla Bocskor Plumb, Susan D. Day & John R. Seiler

  2. Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Theresa M. Wynn-Thompson

Authors
  1. Priscilla Bocskor Plumb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan D. Day
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Theresa M. Wynn-Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John R. Seiler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan D. Day.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Plumb, P.B., Day, S.D., Wynn-Thompson, T.M. et al. Relationship Between Woody Plant Colonization and Typha L. Encroachment in Stormwater Detention Basins. Environmental Management 52, 861–876 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0137-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0137-2

Keywords

  • Cattails
  • Forest succession
  • Invasive species
  • Litter
  • Soil organic matter
  • Urban forest canopy