Belowground biomass in six salt marsh plant communities / by A. Clark Gaither.
| Author/creator | Gaither, A. Clark author. |
| Other author | Bellis, Vincent J., 1938- degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1985. |
| Description | ii, 54 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | Belowground standing crop, net annual production, distribution of macro-organic matter with depth, turnover time, and belowground/aboveground biomass ratios were estimated for six salt marsh plant communities bordering estuarine tributaries of South Creek in Beaufort County, North Carolina. Estimates were derived from macro-organic matter (MOM) values derived from analysis of core samples obtained at monthly intervals throughout 1982. Mean belowground standing crop values (kg.m⁻².yr⁻¹) were: herbaceous annuals 5.53, Cladiurn jamaicense 7.44, Spartina cynosuroides 8.34, Typha domingensis 2.65, Juncus roemerianus 7.80, and Distichlis spicata 2.61. MOM within these plant communities was not evenly distributed throughout the soil profile. The bulk of this material resided within the 0 to 30.0 cm depth increment which contained most of the living roots and rhizomes. Three indices of net annual production (NAP) were also evaluated. Estimates of NAP based on maximum minus minimum values from periodic regression analysis (PRA) were judged to be most reliable. NAP values (kg.m-2) based on PRA were: herbaceous annuals 1.34, Cladium jamai cense 2.33, Spartina cynosuroides 2.16, Typha domingensis 3.55, Juncus roemerianus 1.52, and Distichlis spicata 3.69. Generally, these values fell within the range of belowground production values for comparable marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Belowground NAP within these communities ranged from two to four times greater than aboveground production. |
| General note | "Presented to the graduate faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Advisor: Vincent J. Beilis |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1985 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-54). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
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