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The Ecology and Management of
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The Virginia Department of Game Inland Fisheries began restoring a 1538-ha Atlantic white cedar (AWC) Swamp in Chesapeake, Virginia in 2007. Reestablishment of AWC is the most critical step in restoration of this globally- threatened ecosystem, and several variables may influence success including planting type, hydrologic regime, and shade intensity. The purpose of this study is to compare morphometric parameters of two tree planting types, propagated seedlings and rooted cuttings, at two locations characterized by hydric and mesic hydrologic regimes, which were assigned via prevalence index of wetland indicator status for non-cedar vegetation. In August 2010 and 2011, field crews quantified survivorship and growth (estimated by morphometric parameters including height, canopy diameter and stem diameter), and shade intensity at each location. Data were analyzed using t-tests and linear regressions. Growth was significantly greater (p < 0.05) for rooted cuttings than propagated seedlings over one growing season and shade negatively impacted all growth indices. Growth in hydric hydrologic regime for all three morphometric parameters was less than in mesic plots (p height < 0.050, canopy < 0.001, stem diameter < 0.001). Rooted cuttings had greater mean growth than propagated seedlings and shade is greater in the hydric plots. Reestablishment of AWC may be effective in sites that have a prevalence index of between 2.5 and 3.5; however, mesic sites might lack the self-maintenance capacity in that seeds could be destroyed by fire.
Atlantic white cedar, Restoration, Morphometrics, Prevalence index of wetland indicator status