By Rachel Seaman

Slough – an area of soft, muddy ground; swamp or swamplike region Hydrology – a science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water Inundate – to flood, to cover with water Peat – an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter Water table – the highest underground level at which the rocks and soil in a particular area are completely wet with water

 Slough marsh is a primarily herbaceous community growing in a narrow to broad shallow channel with intermittently flowing water in flat sandy landscapes.

Slough marsh is found in areas that are frequently flooded with slow moving water and very flat topography. Located mostly in south- central Florida

Situated on sand or a with a layer of peat on top of the sand Soils are inundated during the late summer and early fall.

 Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense)

 Bulltongue arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia)  Sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri)

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Slough vs. Slough marsh Sloughs are deeper drainageways of open water or contain floating plants that are underwater nearly all year Slough marsh vs. Basin and Depression marshes Slough marshes are drainageways to conduct surface water from flatlands to floodplains whereas basin and depression marshes collect local rainfall Glades marsh vs. Slough marsh A glades marsh has a substrate of peat or marl directly on limestone as opposed to on top of sand in the slough marsh

Frequency Determined by fire frequency in surrounding communities Probably not best during a drought Suitability Sawgrass carries fire very well even when the marsh is inundated Usually beneficial to the community if burned in patches Promotes sawgrass, maidencane, and bulltongue arrowhead growth (when water levels are still near the soil surface) Beware of peat fires Lack of fire? Promotes growth of shrubs at the expense of herbaceous species

Slough marsh highly sensitive to hydrological alteration Water table draw-downs for human consumption affects nesting success of sandhill cranes Drainage ditches Transforms slow-moving sheet of water into fast-moving channels Allows encroachment of woody species into artificially drained marshes In the deeper water ditches exotic invasive weeds take over (hyacinth, hydrilla)

Hog rooting Cattle Trampling Overgrazing Both can create disturbance and destruction of native plants and allow invasive exotic plants to invade the area

G3 & S3 - Vulernable At moderate risk of extinction or elimination due to a fairly restricted range