A Review of Environmental and Genetic Factors That Affect Height in Spartina alterniflora Loisel. (Salt Marsh Cord Grass)

Cordgrass Biomass in Salt Marshes

“…Intraspecific changes in growth form may be based on phenotypic plasticity or genotypic differences. Thus, several species of Spartina, such as S. alterniflora or S. maritima, show clearly distinguishable tall and short growth forms (Shea et al, 1975;Mendelssohn, 1979;Anderson & Treshow, 1980;Howes et al, 1986;Pezeshki & DeLaune, 1991;Castillo et al, 2005a). Some studies have concluded that the observed variability in growth forms among Spartina populations may be the result of genetic differentiation (Gallagher et al, 1988;Sanchez et al, 1997;Proffitt et al, 2003), identifying ecotypes with different canopy heights and biomass accumulation (Lessmann et al, 1997;Daehler, 1999;Otero et al, 2000;Seliskar et al, 2002;Proffitt et al, 2005).…”

“…Some studies have concluded that the observed variability in growth forms among Spartina populations may be the result of genetic differentiation (Gallagher et al, 1988;Sanchez et al, 1997;Proffitt et al, 2003), identifying ecotypes with different canopy heights and biomass accumulation (Lessmann et al, 1997;Daehler, 1999;Otero et al, 2000;Seliskar et al, 2002;Proffitt et al, 2005). In contrast, other studies have attributed different growth forms to phenotypic plasticity in response to differences in environmental factors (Anderson & Treshow, 1980), such as the availability of nutrients (Dai & Wiegert, 1997;Wigand et al, 2003;Zhao et al, 2010), salinity (Phelger et al, 1971;Trnka & Zedler, 2000) or sediment anoxia (Castillo et al, 2005a). The consequence of this is that the different growth forms are ecophenes.…”

Eco-Physiological Controls on the Productivity of Spartina Alterniflora Loisel

“…Nonetheless, within any individual Spartina-dominated salt marsh 3-fold or greater differences in productivity have been documented, even when the same harvest methodologies have been used (Kirby and Gosselink 1976, Linthurst and Reimold 1978, Gallagher et al 1980. Much of the salt marsh productivity literature has addressed controls on this within-marsh variation, especially relative to the so-called "height forms" of Spartina alterniflora (see reviews such as Anderson and Treshow 1980, Smart 1982. This review will emphasize eco-physiological controls of within marsh variation in primary productivity of Spartina alterniflora, especially within the context of flooding-induced constraints on plant nitrogen utilization and growth.…”

Archaeal Diversity and the Prevalence of Crenarchaeota in Salt Marsh Sediments

“…We used the distinctive vegetation patterns of New England salt marshes, which are dominated by Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens, as proxies for different edaphic conditions. S. alterniflora is found in two phenotypically distinct but genetically identical forms (2). Tall S. alterniflora (SAT) grows to heights of 1 to 2 m and is typically found at the edges of the marsh and along creek banks, while short S. alterniflora (SAS) may reach heights of only 30 cm and is found slightly higher on the marsh, where soil drainage is limited and sediments are more reduced (6,10,17).…”