U.S. Department of Defense

 

Date of this Version

11-1989

Citation

Gilbert, M.C. 1989. Ordination and mapping of wetland communities in Nebraska's Rainwater Basin Region. CEMRO Environmental Report 89-1. Omaha District, u.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska. 105 pp.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

Forty-seven Rainwater Basin wetlands of south-central Nebraska were evaluated to provide information on vegetation composition, species assemblages determined from direct and indirect ordination methodology, and community characteristics derived from wetlands mapping. Vegetation/soil relationships were evaluated from both vegetational stand and mapping data. Seasonal and year to year vegetation dynamics were evaluated for one study site, Harvard Marsh.

Ordination of vegetational data was accomplished by use of weighted averaging and detrended correspondence analysis. Weighted average ordination results indicated wetland status for the Fillmore, Scott and Massie soil series. Occurrence of upland vegetation on hydric soils and wetland vegetation on non-hydric soils was noted for selected soil series. Overall vegetation/soil correlations were low to moderate. Descriptions and discussion Qf Rainwater Basin vegetation associations derived from direct and indirect ordinations are presented to document sample and species relationships along the moisture gradient. Temporal ordination ~t Harvard Marsh indicated changes in stand wetness and species composition for average and wet year comparisons.

Mapping data indicated a highly modified environment based upon the large number of wetland attributes describing hydrologic alterations, the calculated Correspondence Index, a large percentage of non-wetland on hydric soils, and occurrence of wetland attributes on non-hydric soils.

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