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SEASONAL PATTERNS IN THE BELOWGROUND BIOMASS OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA (GRAMINEAE) ACROSS A TIDAL GRADIENT
Author(s) -
Ellison Aaron M.,
Bertness Mark D.,
Miller Tandy
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1986.tb10905.x
Subject(s) - spartina alterniflora , biomass (ecology) , salt marsh , biology , spartina , poaceae , agronomy , nutrient , substrate (aquarium) , aeration , botany , ecology , marsh , wetland
Belowground biomass of two ht forms of the salt marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora , in a New England salt marsh exhibited a seasonal cycle. Biomass was highest in midsummer with no secondary peak in biomass corresponding with the autumn dieback of aboveground parts. Total annual biomass production and the maximum depth that living tissue penetrated into the substrate decreased with increasing tidal ht. Substrate characteristics (soil aeration, pH, nutrient levels) known to affect aboveground biomass of S. alterniflora also decreased with increasing tidal ht and may similarly affect belowground biomass across the same tidal gradient.