Geochemical, Hydrologic, and Vegetation Characteristics of Three Southern Appalachian Mountain Wetlands

Sandefur, Brian

Wetlands are infrequent in the upper elevations of the Southern Appalachia region and are generally represented by small, isolated communities along low gradient stream valleys, benches created by outcrops of resistant strata, and dissected plateaus capped with resistant, flat-lying strata. A natural areas inventory of the Cumberland Mountains in Bell, Harlan, and Letcher counties revealed the presence of numerous, previously undocumented “bogs” through aerial photo interpretations, which were verified through aerial surveys. Although wetlands are the most intensively studied ecosystem in North America, the wetlands of the unglaciated Appalachians have received very little attention. The demands on wetland management of any size in the unglaciated Appalachian area are increasing, in spite of previous overshadowing by legislation focused primarily on the alterations inflicted upon the more sizeable and prominent wetlands. Therefore, there is an urgency to gain scientific knowledge on the functions and processes occurring within natural undisturbed systems, such as the threatened ecosystems of high elevation wetlands in the southern Appalachian region. The general scope of this study was to establish a quantitative database of important biogeochemical parameters sustaining these ecosystems for land managers responsible for the protection and conservation of these rare and fragile areas. The objectives of this project were to evaluate the geomorphological, hydrological, vegetation, and geochemical aspects of three high elevation (~730-790m) wetlands within the Cumberland and Pine Mountains of Kentucky. The following thesis is organized into three chapters. Chapter one examines the soil, geomorphic, and hydrologic characteristics of these wetlands and their relationships with emphasis on differences in hydrology and soil nutrient availability between sites. Chapter two emphasizes plant community distribution and evaluates relationships between vegetation composition, hydrology, soils, and water chemistry. Chapter three focuses on wetland geochemistry and the relationships between water level fluctuations, redox potential, and solution geochemical gradients.