Edaphic Factors and Vegetation in Virginia Coastal Plain Swamps

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Abstract
Forests of 14 small stream bottoms in the central Coastal Plain of Virginia were plotted on a Bray and Curtis-type polar vegetational ordination. Soil samples collected from each stand were tested for texture, field capacity, permanent wilting point, water availability, pH and levels of extractable Ca, Mg, nitrate N, K, P and soluble salts. Measurements of soil moisture and frequency and depth of flooding were recorded at 2-wk intervals for 1 yr. Vegetational composition was strongly correlated with soil moisture levels and occurrence of flooding. Stands which were moist all year were dominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer rubrum and Ulmus americana. Taxodium distichum was also important in certain frequently flooded stands. Drier swamps had high importance values for several other species, particularly Carpinus caroliniana and Liquidambar styraciflua. Stands with low soil moisture in the dry season but frequent flooding in the wet season were dominated by Quercus phellos. Vegetational composition was also correlated with soil pH and Ca, Mg and N. F. pennsylvanica, A. rubrum, U. americana and Taxodium had high importance values in stands with high concentrations of these minerals and with higher pH. C. caroliniana, L. styraciflua, Q. phellos, Q. nigra and Betula nigra were important in stands with low pH and low levels of Ca, Mg and N.

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