Outline What is a Cypress/Tupelo? Dome Swamp Basin Swamp
Comparing similar habitats
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Vocabulary Hydroperiod-Period in which the soil is waterlogged
Peat-Accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter
Marl-CaCO3 or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable
amounts of clays and silt Hydrophytic-Grows wholly or partly in
water
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Cypress/Tupelo Cypress or Tupelo dominate or are at least very
important in the canopy Cypress or Tupelo dominate or are at least
very important in the canopy Long hydroperiod Long hydroperiod
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Dome Swamp
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Dome Swamp Description Isolated, forested, depression wetland
Occurs within a fire-maintained community, such as mesic flatwoods
Small, but can be large and shallow Canopy dominated by pond
cypress and swamp tupelo Shrubs are sparse to moderate Herbaceous
species can be dense to absent Dome shape is made up of smaller
trees that grow along the outer edge in the shallows, while taller
trees grow in the interior where the water is deepest
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Formation of Dome Swamps Flat terraces where overlying sand has
slumped into a depression in the underlying limestone This creates
a rounded depression connected to a shallow water table Soil-Layer
of peat that becomes thicker towards the center of the dome, over
acidic sands or marl, and then limestone or a clay lens underneath
Poor drainage at the surface allows the water to move into the
limestone, which fills in with peat or marl Hydroperiod-180 to 270
days/year
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Distribution Occur throughout Florida, except the keys Most
common in Central Florida Eglin Air Force Base, Everglades National
Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Three Lakes Wildlife
Management Area
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Characteristic Set of Species Pond Cypress ( Taxodium
ascendens) Swamp Tupelo ( Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora)
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Other Common Plant Species Red Maple (Acer rubrum) Dahoon (Ilex
cassine) Swamp Bay (Persea palustris) Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)
Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) Loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus)
Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) Virginia willow (Itea virginica) Titi
(Cyrilla raemiflora) Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia
virginica)
Rare Species in Dome Swamps Pondspice (Litsea aestivalis)
Panhandle Spiderlilly (Hymenocallis henryae) Small-flowered meadow
beauty (Rhexia parviflora) Many-flowered catopsis (Catopsis
floribunda) White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) Wood Stork (Mycteria
americana)
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Threatened Species Frosted Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma
cingulatum)
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Endangered Species Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma
bishopi)
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Management of Dome Swamps Fire is essential! 3 to 5 years along
outside 100 to 150 years towards center Should be allowed to
extinguish naturally, not with firebreaks Protect a few Cypress
seed trees from being harvested as timber to allow regeneration of
the canopy Control for invasive species, such as melaleuca
(Melaleuca quinquenervia)
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Protection Status G4/S4
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Basin Swamp
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Basin Swamp Description Basin wetland with hydrophytic trees
Extended hydroperiod-200 to 300 days/year Occurs in large landscape
depressions Canopy dominated by pond cypress and swamp tupelo
Shrubs may be found in the basin swamp, or just around the
perimeter Variable herbaceous layer
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Formation of Basin Swamps Local rainfall is primary source of
water Acidic, nutrient poor peat over a clay lens Occurs in former
lake beds, river basins, or ancient costal swales Perched water
table Standing water, but can flow during periods of high
water
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Distribution Throughout the Florida Panhandle and peninsula
south to the Lake Okeechobee area Strand swamps replace them in
most of South Florida Goethe State Forest, Lake Panasofkee, Osceola
National Forest, John M. Bethea State Forest
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Characteristic Set of Species Pond Cypress ( Taxodium
ascendens) Swamp Tupelo ( Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora)
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Other Common Plant Species Slash Pine (Pinus elliotti) Red
Maple (Acer rubrum) Dahoon (Ilex cassine) Swamp Bay (Persea
paulustris) Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) Sweetgum (Liquidambar
styraciflua) Virginia Willow (Itea virginiana) Swamp dogwood
(Cornus foemina) Maidencane (Panicum hemitomon) Virgina chain fern
(Woodwardia virginica)
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Common Wildlife Species Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus
floridanus) Racoon (Procyon lotor) River Otter (Lutra canadensis)
Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Great Horned Owl (Bubo
virginianus) Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) Striped Mud
Turtle (Kinosternon bauri) Crayfish snake (Regina alleniI) Cricket
Frog (Acris gryllus dorsalis) Little Grass Frog (Pseudacris
ocularis)
Threatened Species Frosted Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma
cingulatum)
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Management of Basin Swamp Maintain natural hydroperiods Protect
a few Cypress seed trees from being harvested as timber to allow
regeneration of the canopy Control for exotics, like climbing fern
(Lygodium japonicum and L. microphyllum)
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Protection Status G4/S3
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Compare Dome Swamp Deciduous species (like Cypress) Baygall
Evergreen bay species
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Compare Dome Swamp Isolated in the landscape Floodplain Swamp
Occur along perennial streams
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Compare Dome Swamp Always found in fire- regulated communities
Generally smaller Less peat accumulation Lower species diversity
Basin Swamp and Strand Swamp Not always regulated with fire
Generally larger More peat Higher species diversity More irregular
shape
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Compare Basin Swamp More isolated Dominated by pond cypress
Near a lake more isolated form the river Floodplain Swamp Occur
along rivers and creeks Dominated by bald cypress Near a lake that
is connected to the river
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Compare Basin Swamp Develop in old basins of lakes, lagoons
Strand Swamp Occupy troughs aligned with bedrock lows in a gently
sloping limestone plain South Florida
