Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An ecological analysis of pocosin wetlands development with management recommendations

  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pocosins--oligotrophic freshwater evergreen shrub bogs once covering nearly one million hectares on the North Carolina coastal plain--were developed by blocked drainage and peat accumulation over the last 10,000 years. Extensive drainage for agriculture, forestry and peat mining reduced the natural wetland area to 281,000 hectares by 1980. This development has resulted in (1) a shift of hydrologic output from evapotranspiration to runoff, (2) significant increases in carbon flux and phosphorus output, and (3) reduction in habitat for rare and endangered biota, while dramatically increasing the economic value of these lands. General management guidelines are suggested which are based on a balanced view of the resource problem (i.e., ecological, economic and ethical guidelines).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Ash, A.N., C.B. McDonald, C.A. Pories, and E.S. Kane. (In Press). Natural and modified pocosins: literature synthesis and management options for field and wildlife. Contract No. 14-16-0009-81-057. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Coastal Ecosystems Team. Sliddell, La.

  • Barber, R.T., W.W. Kirby-Smith and P.E. Parsley. 1979 Wetland alterations for agriculture, pp. 642–651. In:Wetland Functions and Values:The State of Our Understanding. Greeson, D.E., J.R. Clark and J.E. Clark (eds.) American Water Resources Assoc., Minneapolis, Minn. 674 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, S. 1981. Agricultural adaptability of wet soils of the North Carolina coastal plain, pp. 225–237. In:Pocosin Wetlands: An Integrated Analysis of Coastal Plain Freshwater Bogs in North Carolina. C.J. Richardson (ed.). Hutchinson Ross, Inc., Stroudsburg, Penn. 364 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinson, M.M., D.D. Noltemeier, and M.N. Jones. 1980. Coastal plain stream types and their influence on estuarine water quality. Final Report to U.S. E.P.A., Corvallis, Ore. (Unpublished).

  • Campbell, R.G., and J.H. Hughes. 1981. Forest management systems in North Carolina pocosins: Weyerhaeuser, pp. 199–243. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Christensen, N.E., R. Burchell, A. Liggett, and E. Sins. 1981. The structure and development of pocosin vegetation, pp. 43–61. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Clark, J.R. 1981. An analysis of coastal wetlands in North Carolina. Unpublished report to North Carolina Office of Coastal Management.

  • Cooper, J.E., S.S. Robinson and J.B. Funderburg. 1977. Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of North Carolina N.C. Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, N.C. 444 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, PWS/OBS-79/31. 103 p.

  • Daniel, C., III. 1981. Hydrology, geology and soils of pocosins: A comparison of natural and altered systems, pp. 69–108. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Dideriksen, R.J., A.R. Hidlebough, and K.O. Schmunde. 1979. Wet soil for crop production in the United States, pp. 682–641. In:Wetlands Functions and Values (see Barber et al. 1979).

  • Dolman, J.D., and S.W. Buol. 1967. A study of organic soils (Histosols) in the tidewater region of North Carolina. Tech. Bul. No. 181. North Carolina Agric. Exp. Station, Raleigh, N.C. 52 p.

  • Gilliam, J.W., and R.W. Skaggs. 1981. Drainage and agricultural development: Effects on drainage waters, pp. 109–124. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Gornitz, V., S. Lebedeff, and J. Hansen. 1982. Global, sea level trends in the past century.Science 215: 1611–1614.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harper, R.M. 1907. A midsummer journey through the coastal plain of the Carolinas and Virginia.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 34:351–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harwood, H. and P. McMullan, Jr.. 1981. Peat energy for North Carolina: An economic analysis, pp. 255–269. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Heath, R.C. 1975. Hydrology of the Albemarle-Pamlico region, North Carolina. USGS Water Resources Investigation, 9-755. 98 p.

  • Ingram, R., and L. Otte. 1981. Peat in North Carolina wetlands, pp. 125–134. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Kerr, W.C. 1875. Physical geography, resume, economical geology. Geological Survey of North Carolins, Vol. 1, Raleigh, N.C. 120 p.

  • Kologiski, R.L. 1977. The phytosociology of the Green Swamp, North Carolina. Tech. Bull. No. 250, North Carolina Agric. Exp. Sta., Raleigh, N.C. 101 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, P.J. 1969.Plant and Site Water Relationships: A Modern Synthesis. McGraw-Hill Book Co. 482 p.

  • MacArthur, R.H., and E.D. Wilson. 1967.The Theory of Island Biogeography. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, N.J. 203 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maki, T.E. 1974. Factors affecting forest production on organic soils, pp. 119–136. In:Histosols:Their Characteristics, Classification, and Use. Aandahl, A.R. (ed.). Soil Sci. Soc. of America.

  • McComas, M.R., J.P. Kempton, and K.C. Hinkley. 1972. Geology, soils and hydrology of Volvo Bay and vicinity, Lake County, Illinois. Illinois Geological Environmental Geology Notes, No. 57. 27 p.

  • Monschein, T. 1981. Values of pocosins to game and fish species in North Carolina, pp. 155–170. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Otte, L.J. 1981. Origin, development, and maintenance of the pocosin wetlands of North Carolina. Report to North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh, N.C.

  • Ralston, C.W., and D.D. Richter. 1980. Identification of lower coastal plain sites of low fertility.So. J. Applied Forestry 4:84–88.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, C.J., R. Evans, and D. Carr. 1981. Pocosins: An ecosystem in transition, pp. 3–19. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Richardson, C.J. 1981a. Pocosins: Ecosystem processes and the influence of man on system response, pp. 135–134. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Richardson, C.J., ed. 1981b.Pocosin Wetlands: An Integrated Analysis of Coastal Plain Freshwater Bogs in North Carolina. Hutchinson Ross, Inc., Scroudsburg, Penn. 364 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, C. 1981. The preservation of pocosins: An overview, pp. 189–198. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Shaw, S.P., and C.G. Fredine. 1956. Wetlands of the United States: Their extent and their value to waterfowl and other wildlife. Fish and Wildlife Serv., U.S. Department of Interior, Circular No. 39. 67 p.

  • Snyder, J.R. 1978. Analysis of vegetation in the Croatan National Forest, North Carolina. Master of Arts Thesis, Department of Botany, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 126 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Street, M., and J. McClees. 1981. North Carolina’s coastal fishing industry and the influence of coastal alterations, pp. 238–251. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Taggert, J. 1981. Pocosin natural areas in North Carolina, pp. 171–182. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • The Leader. 1981. North Carolina Gets First Peat-Methanol Plant. Research Triangle Park, N.C. June 18, p. 11.

  • Tooker, W.W. 1899. The adapted Algonquin term “Poquosin.”Am. Anthropol. Jan.: 162–170.

  • Wells, B.W. 1928. Plant communities of the coastal plain of North Carolina and their suceessional relations.Ecol. 9:230–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, D.R. 1972. Developmental and environmental history of the Dismal Swamp.Ecol. Mono. 42:301–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, D.R. 1981. Late-Pleistocene vegetational changes in northeastern North Carolina.Ecol. Monog. 51:451–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilbur, H. 1981. Pocosin fauna, pp. 62–68. In:Pocosin Wetlands (see Barnes 1981).

  • Wilson, K.A. 1962. North Carolina Wetlands: Their Distribution and Management. North Carolina wild. Res. Comm., Raleigh, N.C. 169 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodwell, G.M. 1956. Phystosociology of coastal plain wetlands of the Carolinas. Master of Arts Thesis, Duke University, Durham, N.C. 50 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodwell, G.M. 1958. Factors controlling growth of pond pine seedlings in organic soils of the Carolinas.Ecol. Monog. 28:219–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Duke University, 27706, Durham, North Carolina

    Curtis J. Richardson (Associate Professor, Resource Ecology)

Authors
  1. Curtis J. Richardson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Richardson, C.J. An ecological analysis of pocosin wetlands development with management recommendations. Wetlands 2, 231–248 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160557

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160557

Keywords

Search

Navigation