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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145838
Title: RESPONSES OF BLACK WILLOW (SALIX NIGRA) CUTTINGS TO FLOODING AND HERBIVORY

Author
item LI, S - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
item MARTIN, L - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
item PEZESHKI, S - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
item Shields Jr, Fletcher

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2003
Publication Date: 6/8/2003
Citation: LI, S., MARTIN, L.T., PEZESHKI, S.R., SHIELDS JR, F.D. RESPONSES OF BLACK WILLOW (SALIX NIGRA) CUTTINGS TO FLOODING AND HERBIVORY. SOCIETY OF WETLAND SCIENTISTS 24TH ANNUAL MEETING. 2003. ABSTRACT P. 143.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Herbivory and flooding are common occurrences that influence species composition and diversity in wetland ecosystems. Black willow (Salix nigra) naturally occurs in floodplains and riparian zones of the southeastern United States. Cuttings (posts) from this species are used as a bioengineering tool for streambank stabilization. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of flooding and herbivory on cutting survival and growth. Under greenhouse conditions, photosynthetic and growth responses to simulated herbivory and flooding treatments were quantified. Over a 51-day experimental period, potted cuttings (1cm in diameter and 38 cm long) were subjected to three levels of herbivory: no herbivory (control), light herbivory, and heavy herbivory; and three levels of moisture regimes: no flooding (control), continuous flooding, and periodic flooding (one week flooding followed by a week of draining). Results indicated that neither continuous nor periodic flooding had any detectable effects on plant photosynthetic performance that was measured periodically on selected leaves. Leaf chlorophyll content was enhanced under light herbivory treatment while photosynthesis was increased in response to heavy and light herbivory. In addition, heavy herbivory resulted in improved total height across moisture regimes at the end of the experiment. Increased root/shoot ratio was observed in continuously flooded cuttings for both heavy and light herbivory treatment groups. Periodic flooding adversely affected the root/shoot ratio when no herbivory was present. Therefore, black willow exhibited increased photosynthetic capacity and root growth in response to herbivory as a result of overcompensation, especially when soil was continuously flooded.