BULLETIN FLORIDA MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY VOL. 38 PT. I (3)


determined the extent of zonation through direct and indirect effects on the
composition of the wetland plant community. Each pond's position in its
hydrologic cycle was reflected in its co-dominant species, species richness, and
diversity. Species richness and diversity were highest in ponds which had dried-
down less than one year previous to sampling and lowest in flooded ponds and
ponds which had been dry for several years.
 The high percentage of OBL in pond basins and the low WIV, in most cases,
resulted from the presence of Panicum hemitomon. This species appears to have
an important role in maintaining temporary pond basins, as exemplified by its
presence in DP, which had been dry for over 7 years when sampled. Long-term
persistence of P. hemitomon may reduce the rate of oxidation of organic matter,
reduce soil moisture loss, and inhibit growth and establishment of upland adapted
plant species.


 Conservation Implications


 Because temporary pond vegetation is adapted to cycles of wet/dry, any one
sampling of a pond will give only a small picture of the total community
composition. This has important implications for the current dispute over wetland
delineation. If wetland hydrology indicators were narrowed to exclude hydric soils
and wetland vegetation as hydrology indicators, temporary ponds would not
consistently meet the wetland criteria (USEPA 1991). However, wetland indicator
values from this study, conducted during a period of drought, clearly identified the
plant communities of all ponds studied as hydrophytic (Reed 1988; USEPA 1989).
 Although most wetland plant species in temporary ponds senesce and die
back, some of the most common plants are those most resistant to decomposition
and may be useful in determining wetland boundaries (i.e. Panicum hemitomon,
Hypericum fasiculatum, Rhexia mariana, and Andropogon glomeratus).
 Data from this study could be used as a model to predict the temporary pond
wetland type, occurring in uplands of north and north-central Florida, used for
breeding by the Florida gopher frog and striped newt. The data also provide a
foundation for the development of temporary pond management strategies.
However, there are probably many other plant species present in these wetlands
which were not identified by this study. Additional data collected during wet
years, and tracked seasonally, would give a more complete picture of the plant
community.