Salinity, groundwater, and water uptake depth of plants in coastal uplands of Everglades National Park (Florida, USA)

Coastal upland plant communities in Everglades National Park exhibit distinct salinity and water uptake patterns, with hardwood hammocks featuring brackish groundwater (14–27 PPT), buttonwood hammocks showing brackish to saline conditions (23–35 PPT), and buttonwood prairies experiencing more saline groundwater (30–44 PPT). Most species predominantly access deep soil water (5–30 cm) during the dry season, switching to shallow soil water (0–5 cm) in the wet season. However, the endemic herbaceous species Chromolaena frustrata reverses this pattern, relying on shallow water in the dry season and deeper sources in the wet season. These findings highlight the varying susceptibility of these plant communities to sea level rise (SLR)-driven changes in water table and salinity, offering critical insights for adaptation planning.

Saha, S., Sadle, J., van der Heiden, C., & Sternberg, L. (2014). Salinity, groundwater, and water uptake depth of plants in coastal uplands of Everglades National Park (Florida, USA). Ecohydrology, 8(1), 128–136. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1494