Effects of rooting by feral hogs Sus scrofa L. on the structure of a floodplain vegetation assemblage

We evaluated effects of rooting by feral hogs (Sus scrofa) on total emergen t vegetation cover, vegetation species richness, and diversity of plant-def ined microhabitat types in an impounded floodplain marsh in central Florida . Data were collected in 6 split-plots (rooted and control) over 10 post-ro oting, monthly sampling periods. Hog rooting led to reduced plant cover in broadleaf marsh habitats and to significantly higher microhabitat diversity and species richness. Although feral hogs can have detrimental effects on native biota and community structure, our data suggest that hog rooting is a disturbance that can enhance plant species richness and associated microh abitat diversity in wetland habitats.