Factors affecting growth and regeneration of baldcypress in a South Carolina tidal freshwater swamp

Tidal freshwater forested wetlands are unique in that they are flooded and drained daily by freshwater due to tidal forces. Seven study sites located on and around Sandy Island in Georgetown County, South Carolina were established in order to calculate net aboveground productivity and measure tree growth using dendrometer bands and tree ring analysis for the purpose of determining what environmental factors influenced the growth of these trees.; The sites were dominated by baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) and tupelo (Nyssa spp.). Net above ground primary productivity numbers ranged from approximately 700 g/m2/yr to approximately 1300 g/m2/yr. Compared to seasonally flooded and permanently flooded forested wetlands, tidal freshwater forest wetlands are less productive than intermediately flooded forested wetlands, and not significantly different from more permanently flooded sites. This suggests that tidal forces do reduce overall productivity.; Tidal forces seem to be the dominant factor affecting growth in these forests. Growth in most sites did not correlate well with seasonal hydrology or climatic influences, and growth differences in growth pattern were consistent over the year.