Bottomland Hardwood Forest Characteristics

General characteristics bottomland hardwoods are one of the lowest in elevation and the wettest types of hardwood forests.

Bottomland hardwood forest characteristics.

Bottomland forests represent a transition between drier upland hardwood forest and very wet river floodplain and wetland forests. You can use the term bottomland forest loosely to refer to a variety of wooded habitats but true bottomland forests have these characteristics. Leitman introduction bottomland hardwoods blh occur throughout the riverine floodplains of the southeastern united states figure 1. Patrick jr j george dissmeyer 2 donai d.

They are occasionally flooded which builds up the alluvial soils required for the gum oak and bald cypress trees that typically grow in this type of biome. Typical tree species growing in these forests range from cottonwoods and sweetgums to cherrybark oaks water oaks and hickories. Historic blhs were a product of the natural hydrologic and geomorphic processes associated with their adjacent rivers. Bottomland hardwood forests are recognized as an important feature of the landscape joining riverine systems with upland forests and function as areas of filtration for.

Bottomland hardwood forests blh are found in temperate humid regions of the southeastern us primarily on alluvial floodplains adjacent to rivers. Our objective was to characterize the vegetative composition and abundance in a bottomland hardwood stand which had been under an annual flooding regime for over 50 years. Results indicate that overcup oak is dominant in all three vertical layers while the more desirable willow oak is common only in the overstory. 276 characteristics of wetlands ecosystems of southeastern bottomland hardwood forests william h.

They are seasonally wet areas for example from annual spring flooding. 1 common characteristics of bottomland swamp forests in the south atlantic coastal plain hydrology effects species composition o persistent. Hook 3 victor w. They are generally found along the edges of lakes and rivers and in sinkholes.

These zones are the result of an active river cutting its banks and forming new land putnam 1960. Bottomland hardwood forests support a great variety of tree and shrub species. Bottomland swamp forest silviculture symposium field tour. Bottomland hardwood forests can reduce the risk and severity of flooding to downstream communities by providing areas to store floodwater.