Wet bottomland forest | Adaptation Workbook

Wet bottomland forests experience prolonged, frequent flooding and have wet, poorly-drained soils. Dominant species include pin, willow and overcup oak; green ash, silver and red maple, boxelder, shellbark and water hickory, cottonwood, and black willow.

Climate Impact Statements

Wet bottomland forests may be stressed by altered flood regimes.

Model reliability is low for willow oak, overcup oak, and shellbark hickory, which dominate wet bottomland forests.

Green ash is expected to decline in wet bottomland forests in the near future because of emerald ash borer and not because of climate change.

Boxelder, red maple, and eastern cottonwood may be able to persist in wet bottomland forests throughout the century.

Wet bottomland forests may be threatened by encroachment of mesic bottomland species.

Low species diversity reduces the ability of wet bottomland forests to persist as a community.

Wet bottomland forests are highly constrained by topography, impeding migration to new areas.

Vulnerability

Moderate-High

Adaptive Capacity

Moderate