Freshwater Forested Wetlands

Strand Swamp

Craig Stokes

Description

What is a Strand Swamp? • A shallow, forested, usually elongated depression or channel

situated in a trough within a flat limestone plain, and dominated primarily by bald cypress (Taxodium distichum).

• a diffuse freshwater stream flowing through a shallow forested depression on a gently sloping plain (Wharton et al., 1976)

• depression on a gently sloping plain

• Strand Swamp Variation• Smaller strand swamps may instead contain pond cypress (T.

ascendens).

Distribution

Range• Strand swamps are restricted to South Florida• Not likely that they occur north of Lake Okeechobee• Mainly in Collier County• ex. Fakahatchee Strand and Corkscrew Swamp

Status• S2/G2• G2 = Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or

less than 3000 individuals) or because of vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or man-made factor.

• S2 = Imperiled in Florida because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or less than 3000 individuals) or because of vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or man-made factor.

Distribution• Map shows majority of

Collier County• Fakahatchee Strand

Preserve State Park• Corkscrew Swamp• Picayune Strand State

Forest

Conditions

Soils• Peat and sand over limestone.• Swamps with larger cypress and more diverse understory are

on deep peat that acts as a wick to draw moisture from groundwater during droughts (Duever et al 1986).

Hydroperiod• Range from 100-300 days.• Water levels are typically greatest in June with increasing

rainfall.• Lowest levels during winter and early spring.• Water is deepest and longest near the center of the strand

swamp.

Strand Swamp Cross Section

Strand Swamp Interior

Aerial Photo of Fakahatchee Strand

Identification

Strand vs basin/dome swamp• Basin/dome swamps occur in closed depressions with little

water flow.• Basin swamps north of Lake Okeechobee are roughly linear

in outline. These usually occupy basins of former lagoons parallel to the coast that formed during periods of high sea level.

• Strand swamps are found in troughs aligned with bedrock lows in a very gently sloping limestone plain.

• Dome swamps can grow together which forms an irregular strand. (Duever et al. 1986)

Identification

Strand Swamp vs Floodplain Swamp• Floodplain swamps occur along streams and rivers, as

opposed to strand swamps which have an irregular network of lower sloughs¹.

• Because of climate differences between each habitat type, Strand swamps have a more tropical understory than most floodplain swamps, which tend to be found further north.

• Sloughs¹- the deepest drainageways within swamps and marsh systems that are

indundated with slow moving or nearly stagnant water.

Identification

Dominant Plant Species

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) Pond Apple (Annona glabra)

Dominant Plant SpeciesBald Cypress

(Taxodium distichum)Pond Cypress

(Taxodium ascendens)

Dominant Plant SpeciesSwamp Laurel Oak(Quercus laurifolia)

Cabbage Palm(Sabal plametto)

Dominant Plant SpeciesStrangler Fig(Ficus aurea)

Coastalplain Willow(Salix caroliniana)

Dominant Plant SpeciesSweetbay

(Magnolia virginiana)Swamp Bay

(Persea palustris)

Dominant Widlife SpeciesWhite-tailed deer

(Odocoileus virginianus)Gray squirrel

(Sciurus carloinensis)

Dominant Widlife SpeciesRaccoon

(Procyon lotor)River Otter

(Lutra canadensis)

Dominant Widlife SpeciesLittle Blue Heron(Florida caerulea)

Great Egret(Casmerodius albus)

Dominant Widlife SpeciesAmerican Alligator

(Alligator mississippiensis)Cottonmouth

(Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Dominant Widlife SpeciesRed-shouldered Hawk

(Buteo lineatus)Barred owl(Strix varia)

Rare Species

Plants• Birdsnest spleenwort• American Bird’s nest fern• Narrow-leaved strap fern• Tailed strap fern• Many-flowered catopsis• Cowhorn orchid• Fakahatchee guzmania• Hand fern• Fuzzy-wuzzy air-plant• Entire-winged bristle fern• Leafy vanilla• All restricted to south Florida

peninsula

Animals• Short-tailed hawk• Swallow-tailed kite• Mangrove fox squirrel

(Threatened)• Florida panther (Endangered)• Florida black bear• Southern mink (Threatened)• Wood storks (Endangered)• Eastern indigo snake

(Endangered)

Natural Processes• Fire occurs very rarely in the interior of strand swamps.• Can occur more frequently on the outskirts of the strand.• These fires on the edges of strand swamps can help control

hardwoods.• If left without fire, strands may convert to hyrdric hammock

(Penfound 1952).• Muck fires that burn the peat can kill trees and lower the

ground transforming them into a slough. In these areas, coastalplain willow will make a thicket.

Management: History• Most strands were severely affected by cypress logging in the

early 20th century.• Logged strands may be more vulnerable to fires, followed by

establishment of coastalplain willow thickets. (Alexander and Crook 1973)

• Conversion of surrounding lands to pasture , citrus and developments.

• Roads, levees, canals and trams were constructed for logging and development which impeded water flow to and from strands.

• Only within the past 15-20 years, there has been attempts to restore strand swamps.

Management and Restoration• Chemical/mechanical: useful for removal of exotic plant species.

(java plum, Peruvian willow, climbing fern, brazilian pepper, and melaleuca).

• Any clearcutting operation should leave a cypress seed source adjacent to the cleared area for regeneration

• Restore soils: peat in burned or drained strands• Hydrological: installation of culverts, filling of canals and

destruction of unused roads to restore natural hydrology.• Prescribed fire can be used at the edge of strand swamps to keep

back hardwood invasion. 30-200 years.• Reconnecting appropriate ecological systems • Acquire threatened strand swamps • Conduct research• Increase public awareness

Logging of Fakahatchee Strand