Depressional wetland vegetation types: A question of plant community development

When wetland restoration includes re-establishing native plant taxa as an o bjective, an understanding of the variables driving the development of plan t communities is necessary. With this in mind, we examined soil and physiog raphic characteristics of depressional wetlands of three vegetation types ( cypress-gum swamps, cypress savannas, and grass-sedge marshes) located in a fire-maintained longleaf pine ecosystem in southwestern Georgia, USA. Our objective was to establish whether plant community development in these wet lands is controlled primarily by hydrogeomorphic features or by different d isturbance histories. We did not identify physical features that uniquely s eparate the wetland vegetation types. Instead, we observed a range of topo- edaphic conditions that likely drive variations in hydrologic regimes, whic h in turn, are probable influences on fire regime. We propose that several long-term successional trajectories may be initiated in the prolonged absen ce of fire, altered hydrology, or both, which link the distinctive vegetati on types. Thus, a range of vegetation types may be suitable as potential re storation goals for these depressional wetlands. We suggest that the opport unities or constraints for use of prescribed fire in the long-term manageme nt of restored wetlands and adjacent uplands should be a significant consid eration in the development of restoration strategies targeting specific pla nt communities.