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 Pine/Palmetto
Flatwoods Community
Longleaf and slash pines comprise the canopy community, and the understory
contains saw palmetto and various grasses. This community is highly fire
resistant and dependent upon frequent low-intensity fires to prevent invasion
by hardwood species.
Mixed
Pine/Hardwood Community
This community occurs in upland pine/palmetto flatwood areas where fires
have been prevented for extended periods, permitting the invasion of hardwood
trees into the community. In addition to the presence of pine in the canopy,
live oak and sweet gum are also found in this community.
Lowland
Hardwood Community
The lowland
hardwood community is found in landlocked depressions or swamps in tidal
estuaries. These sites are subject to considerable local changes in water
level during the growing season. Frequent flooding by water with accumulated
organic matter occurs in these areas. The dominant trees include ash,
bay, maple, sweet gum and cypress.
 Tidal
Marsh Community
The extensive tidal marshes located in most sections of Davis Bayou are
highly productive; however, very little of the organic matter and nutrients
produced in the marsh are actually utilized by marsh inhabitants. Rather
the organic matter is washed by tides into bays and estuaries, where it
provides food for many marine animals. These organisms are the basis of
the food chain in the productive estuaries.
The marsh
region of Davis Bayou is composed of two major species: saltmarsh cordgrass,
which occurs in pure strands in the lower or most saline portions of the
marsh, and black rush, which borders the former. The upper area of the
saline marsh shows reduction in the saltmarsh cordgrass habitat through
a decrease in density and an increase in height of black rush. Brackish
water plant species, such as saltmarsh grass and bullrush are found intermixed
with the black rush.
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