Phytosociology And Succession On Earthquake Uplifted Coastal Wetlands Copper River Delta Alaska PDF Download

The Copper River Delta (CRD) stretches 75 km. along the south-central coastline of Alaska. It is the terminus of the outwash deposits from a large part of the most heavily glaciated region of N. Amer., & all major rivers that flow into the delta carry high levels of suspended sediments. In 1964, a severe earthquake raised the entire delta from 1.8 to 3.4 meters above the previous mean sea level. Subtidal areas became intertidal, & intertidal areas supertidal. Vegetation on newly supertidal levees changed from herb to shrub. A change in frequency & duration of tidal inundation & water salinity is the most obvious cause. The uplift appears to have altered locations & rates, but not the nature, of wetland plant succession on the CRD. Illustrations.