Hurricane Hugo effects on old-growth floodplain forest communities at Four Holes Swamp, South Carolina

Abstract

We assessed hurricane damage and mortality of 1233 canopy trees( ≥6 in dbh) in sixteen plots within the old growth floodplain forest in Four Hole Swamp. Sixty percent of the trees sustained major damage, and 22 % had died within two growing seasons as a result of the hurricane. Higher elevation Ridge Bottom forest plots sustained the greatest damage (81 %) and highest mortality (47%), while the lower Cypressffupelo forest plots had the least (43% and 4%, respectively), and mid-elevation Hardwood Bottomland forests were intermediate (64% and 24%, respectively). Among the more common species in our plots, water oak (Quercus nigra L.) and spruce pine (Pima glabra Walt.) had the largest percentage of individuals damaged (≥93%), and baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica var. bijlora (Walt.) Sarg.), water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.), and Carolina ash (Fraxinus caroliniana Mill.) had the smallest (≤47%). After two growing seasons, spruce pine had by far the greatest percent mortality (91 %) of individuals alive at the time of the hurricane, and water tupelo and blackgum the lowest (1 % and 3%, respectively). The dominant type of damage was main stem break (50% of affected trees). However, of the different types of damage, 70% of uprooted trees died and only 35% of the main stem broken trees died. Mortality among trees with major branch loss and bent stems has been less than 10%. Hurricane Hugo effects were not randomly distributed through the forest. While other factors may be involved, species present, and possibly community type, influence the kinds and degree of effects.

Citation

Duever, Michael J.; McCollum, Jean M. 1992. Hurricane Hugo effects on old-growth floodplain forest communities at Four Holes Swamp, South Carolina. In: Proceedings of the Seventh Biennial Silvicultural Research Conference. 1992 Nov. 17-19; Mobile, AL: 197-202.