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Seed bank potential of moist-soil managed wetlands in east-central Texas

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Abstract

Proper management techniques on moist-soil wetlands provide methods for enhancement of established wetlands, restoration of former wetlands, and creation of new wetland habitat. These techniques also create suitable wetland habitat for non-breeding waterfowl and other wetland dependent species during winter. To understand moist-soil managed wetland vegetative patterns, aspects such as plant species distribution, reproductive strategy, seed bank composition and viability should be thoroughly characterized. We investigated soil seed bank potential of moist-soil managed wetlands on Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, Texas to determine which treatment (i.e., drawdown or flooded) produced the most desirable moist-soil plants. A total of 27 species germinated, producing 3,731 and 3,031 seedlings in drawdown and flooded treatments, respectively. There were also differences in stem densities between treatments of desirable and non-desirable species. Drawdown treatments had more seedlings germinate than flooded treatments, validating the notion that drawdown treatments provide favorable conditions for seed germination. Drawdown and flooding techniques, when properly timed, will allow managers to drive and directly influence managed wetland plant communities based on seed bank composition and response to presence or absence of water during the germination period.

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Acknowledgments

Financial and logistical support for this research was provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (MacIntire-Stennis) at Stephen F. Austin State University. We thank Eric Woolverton, Edwin Bowman, Gary Rhodes, Kevin Kraai, and Matt Symmank for field and logistical support. We appreciate comments by C. Comer, B. Oswald, D. Scognamillo, G. Esslinger, and B. Howe on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

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  1. Daniel P. Collins

    Present address: Migratory Bird Office – Region 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM, 87103, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, P.O. Box 6109, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX, 75962, USA

    Daniel P. Collins & Warren C. Conway

  2. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX, 78744, USA

    Corey D. Mason

  3. Middle Trinity River Ecosystem Project, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 16149 N. US HWY 287, Tennessee Colony, TX, USA

    Jeffrey W. Gunnels

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  1. Daniel P. Collins
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  2. Warren C. Conway
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  4. Jeffrey W. Gunnels
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Correspondence to Daniel P. Collins.

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Collins, D.P., Conway, W.C., Mason, C.D. et al. Seed bank potential of moist-soil managed wetlands in east-central Texas. Wetlands Ecol Manage 21, 353–366 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-013-9307-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-013-9307-5

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