Vegetation of Swamps Receiving Reactor Effluents

Abstract

Vegetational properties of mixed hardwood swamps exposed to different thermal regimes from the release of nuclear reactor effluents were compared on the bases of floristic similarity, importance values of the dominant species, and diversity. Floristic composition was greatly altered by high water temperatures and by increased flooding and silting associated with the discharge of reactor effluents. Although the forest canopy was destroyed, diversity of the herbaceous flora remained high under conditions of thermal loading and post-thermal recovery. Trees comprise 40% of the species present in the undisturbed swamp habitat and less than 10% in the stressed areas. Successional recovery of the swamp following removal of the stress is slow. Such studies are valuable in assessing the responses of natural systems to the introduction and ultimate removal of nuclear reactor effluents.