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Decomposition of Sarcocornia quinqueflora on an Iron‐Smelting Slag Substrate
Author(s) -
Dick T. M.,
Streever W. J.,
Osunkoya O. O.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
restoration ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1526-100X
pISSN - 1061-2971
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-100x.2002.10101.x
Subject(s) - slag (welding) , decomposition , environmental science , wetland , substrate (aquarium) , marsh , environmental chemistry , salt marsh , smelting , ecology , chemistry , metallurgy , biology , materials science , organic chemistry
Restoration of salt marsh habitat is becoming more common in Australia. However, little is known about restoring salt marshes on substrates contaminated by slag from iron smelting, which could affect microbial activity. This study, conducted near Newcastle, Australia, compares initial C, N, and P mass and decomposition of Sarcocornia quinqueflora (glasswort or samphire) from (1) a restoration site with a slag‐and‐mud substrate, (2) the restoration site's donor marsh, and (3) other nearby sites sampled to provide information on background variability. A litterbag technique with a 180‐day incubation period was used to quantify total, C, N, and P mass losses from decomposition. Although there were significant differences between sites in initial N mass and loss of C and P over the period of our study, the presence of slag did not slow decomposition rates as measured using litterbags. Further work is needed to assess other aspects of wetland structure and function on slag substrates.