FORESTED WETLANDS OF LOW-ORDER STREAMS IN THE INNER COASTAL-PLAIN OF NORTH-CAROLINA, USA

We quantified geomorphic and vegetational characteristics of 22 first- to-fourth order riverine forests located in the inner coastal plain of North Carolina. We used Detrended Correspondence Analysis to compare canopy composition among sites and relate measured environmental param eters to distribution of canopy trees and stream order. Both geomorphi c and vegetational attributes could be used to functionally divide fir st-to-fourth order riverine systems into 17 headwater (first and secon d order streams) and 5 midreach systems (third and fourth order stream s). As expected, stream order was found to be positively correlated (P <0.003) with drainage basin size, floodplain width, and channel width. The canopy of headwater reaches was dominated by various combinations of Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, and Acer rubrum, while mid reach systems were typically dominated by Taxodium distichum and/or Ny ssa aquatica. Canopy composition was similar to other low order stream floodplains in the southeastern USA from Alabama to Maryland. However , the canopy composition of bottomlands differed in that the genera Fr axinus, Quercus, and Ulmus were generally less important in the North Carolina bottomlands than elsewhere in the Southeast. Metrics obtained from these relatively unaltered ecosystems could be used to develop s tandards for assessing of wetland condition and provide appropriate cr iteria for designing restoration of altered low order riverine ecosyst ems.