Drivers of hydroperiod in ephemeral and permanent wetlands
File(s)
Date
2017-04Author
Hilger, Anna
Publisher
University of Wisconsin--Stout. Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Advisor(s)
Little, Amanda
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Wetlands serve as a habitat for many different plant and animal
species that rely on various hydroperiods to survive. Understanding the
influences on hydroperiod may help to compensate for any future loss or
changes in hydroperiod due to environmental change. Aspects of wetland
hydroperiod (min/max depth, seasonal range, mean periodic (six hours)
fluctuation, and maximum periodic fluctuation) were related to explanatory
geomorphic variables (surface area to volume ratio, basin size, wetland area,
and elevation). Permanent (PW) and ephemeral pond (EP) hydroperiod
characteristics were compared for wetlands in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
Pressure transducer data loggers were placed in paired PWs and EPs to
collect water depth data. In EPs, canopy cover was negatively related to
maximum depth, because trees decrease water depths through interception
and/or transpiration. Seasonal range was positively correlated with EP
area and negatively correlated to peat depth. Larger EPs may have had a
larger seasonal range because they both captured and evaporated more
water. EPs in larger basins had both higher mean and maximum periodic
fluctuations, because larger basins result in more runoff from precipitation.
Range and maximum fluctuation were significantly higher in EPs than PWs.
Mean periodic fluctuation was not significantly different because PWs were
both filling up and evaporating whereas EPs were mostly evaporating with
occasionally dramatic increases due to precipitation. PWs that were smaller
and lower in elevation with smaller basins tended to have more variable
hydroperiods than larger PWs due to a lack of water storage in the basin.
Subject
hydroperiod
ephemeral ponds
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/77575Description
Research article with map, graphs, and tables.
Citation
Hilger, A. (2017). Drivers of hydroperiod in ephemeral and permanent wetlands. University of Wisconsin-Stout Journal of Student Research, 16, 48-59.