In this dissertation, self-organization of constructed forested wetlands was studied
 by measuring numerous parameters related to vegetation and soil constituents and by
 constructing successional trajectories (pathways of development in biotic and abiotic
 parameters over time) with the data. Successional theory describes distinct, directional
 changes in ecosystems with time, often moving toward an asymptotic maximum. If these
 changes occur across systems and are measurable, changes should be apparent by
 measuring the changing parameters across a chronosequence of successional stages.

 Table 7.1 lists the descriptive parameters measured for eventual trajectory
 development. Figure 7.1 represents a hypothetical successional trajectory of a parameter.
 The actual value for a parameter over time, although unknown, is represented by the
 dotted line. The solid black represents a best estimate of the value of the parameter
 derived from field data. A 95% confidence interval around the measured values of the
 parameter provides an acceptable range of values for that parameter at any given time.
 Regions lying above the acceptable range may represent unrealistic expectations for the
 value of the parameter, while the region below the acceptable region may indicate a need
 for concern. Values of the parameter falling in the area of concern may indicate the
 parameter is progressing in the desired direction and that expected self-organization
 processes are not occurring.

 There is not a single trajectory, but as many trajectories as there are components
 and processes that change with succession. Therefore the real question is, "Are there one
 or more trajectories that could be used to aid in construction, management and
 assessment of forested wetland systems?"


 REVIEW OF LITERATURE


 Successional Theory as a Basis for Ecosystem Construction and Management

 Historically, a unifying theory of ecological succession has been elusive. Varying
 approaches to the study of ecological succession have resulted in opposing
 conceptualizations, many of which can be resolved by identifying the scale of reference.
 The concept of steady state or successional climax, although apparent at a landscape
 scale, is questioned by those approaching an understanding of succession at a smaller
 scale. A small-scale approach leads to a view of a dynamic and constantly changing
 environment driven by stochastic events.

 If succession is an orderly progression through a sequence of developmental
stages, defining the underlying mechanism of this change becomes the focus of research.
Early efforts directed toward a unified successional theory focused on the biotic
component, primarily vegetation, since the changing plant community is the most easily
observable change through time. Connell and Slayter (1977) summarize three
mechanistic models for explaining change in plant species composition with time.