systems, and the atmosphere. By virtue of of an apparent resilience to specific 



these couplings, the swamps provide inval- disturbance, the ecological values of the 



uable services and resources to the envi- bottomland hardwoods can be impaired by 



ronment. These "ecological values" are a development or alterations which do not 



function of the interaction of the bottom- take into account the openness of these 



land hardwood ecosystem and its primary ecosystems to the riverine and upland 



driving force, the fluctuating water ecosystems to which they are hydrologi- 



levels of the riverine systems. In spite cally coupled. 



108 



