| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Makings, Elizabeth [1]. "Found Then Drowned" Noteworthy Collections from Tempe Towne Lake riverbed, Tempe, Arizona. Tempe Town Lake is a water body created by inflatable bladder dams that were constructed along the highly regulated and formerly-perennial Salt River in Phoenix, Arizona. The dam ruptured on 20 July 2010, exposing organic and clay-dominated lake bed sediments that had been submersed for approximately 10 years. A unique plant community sprung up in the immediate aftermath - dominated by graminoid wetland vegetation and reminiscent of cienega marshlands that historically blanketed many rivers in the Southwest. During a site visit on 27 Sept 2010 twenty taxa were collected. Three species turned out to be of interest: Cyperus michelianus ssp. (Rottb.) Asch. & Graebn. (Cyperaceae) - a North American record; Ludwigia erecta (L.) Hara (Onagraceae) - an Arizona record with a disjunct of some 1,200 miles; and Ammannia coccinea Rottb. (Lythraceae) - historically rare in Arizona, but suddenly abundant in this particular reach of the temporary wetland of the Salt River. The habitat is now gone as the bladder dams were replaced, and the Lake refilled, but the exercise underscores the importance of collecting in sometimes overlooked urban watersheds that may harbor novelties. Broader Impacts:
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501, USA
Keywords:
novelties
Ammannia
Ludwigia
disjuncts.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEC014
Abstract ID:352 |
