| Abstract | We examined the influence of surface area and water permanence on plant species richness of ponds at Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland in north central Texas. Forty ponds were randomly selected and surveyed during a spring and fall field season. Ponds varied in size from 4000 m2; species richness ranged from 20 to 78 species. A total of 228 taxa from 51 families were found. A cluster analysis showed all ponds to be at least 50% dissimilar in floristic composition. There was a significant, positive relationship between surface area and richness, number of wetland species, and number of perennial species. Permanent ponds displayed significantly higher richness, composition of perennial species, and numbers of wetland species than temporary ponds. While surface area and permanence helped in part to explain the variation in richness between ponds, stochastic events and other factors also influence the composition of pond vegetation |
