Ecology of Red Maple Swamps in the Glaciated Northeast: A ...

followed by recession, of ftooduratem from an adjacent
stseam or lake (Fig, 5.5). No studies have
addressed either the export of detritus or nutrients
from ned maple swmps to adjacent water Wies or
the influence of such expurt on aquatic food chains.
The likelihd of signific~llt export depnds on
the strength of the hydrologic coupling between the
swamp and adjacent aquatic systems; key factors
include the fkquency, duration, depth, md velocity
of floodwaters, as well as the volume and duration
of the surface-water discharge h m the swamp.
Ilowcves, sixxcc cuniulative inputs from numerous
wetl~llds it1 niruiy subwatelvrheds determine the
chmactr;riatics and functions of lower perennial
riverine systenm, even relatively small wetlands
with only irlternlittent surface-water discharge
may play a significmxt role in xlutrient export and
food chain support.