Cordgrass Biomass in Salt Marshes

Castillo, Jesús M.; Rubio-Casal, Alfredo E.; Figueroa, Enrique

doi:10.5772/9767

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 111 publications

(208 reference statements)

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“…The production and allocation of biomass recorded for S. densiflora were in the range reported previously for this and other Spartina species (Castillo et al 2010). Root biomass increased in coarser sediments, whereas rhizomes were more abundant in finer sediments.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Variation in tussock architecture of the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora along the Pacific Coast of North America

et al. 2016

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Some introduced species spread rapidly beyond their native range and into novel habitats mediated by a high degree of phenotypic plasticity and/or rapid evolutionary responses. In this context, clonality has been described as a significant factor contributing to invasiveness. We studied the abiotic environment and the responses of different tussock architecture traits of the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora Brongn. (Poaceae). A common garden experiment and field studies of S. densiflora in salt marshes across a wide latitudinal gradient from California (USA) to British Columbia (Canada) provided a model system for an integrated study of the potential mechanisms underlying the response of invasive S. densiflora populations to changes in environmental conditions. Our results showed that S. densiflora is able to adjust to widely variable climate (specifically, air temperature and the duration of the growing season) and sediment conditions (specifically, texture and hypoxia) through phenotypical plastic key functional tussock traits (e.g. shoot density, height, above-and below-ground biomass allocation patterns). Root biomass increased in coarser sediments in contrast to rhizomes, which were more abundant in finer sediments. Above-ground biomass and leaf area index increased mainly with air temperature during summer, and more robust (taller and wider) shoots were associated with more oxygenated sediments. In view of our results, S. densiflora appears to be a halophyte with a high degree of phenotypic plasticity that would enable it to respond successfully to changes in the abiotic conditions of salt marshes driven by global climate change, such as increasing salinity and temperatures.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Variation in tussock architecture of the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora along the Pacific Coast of North America

et al. 2016

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“…The invasive S. densiflora accumulated less biomass and produced fewer florets under high salinity and deep inundation, which are key to the spread of its invasive populations. From this perspective, SLR would reduce S. densiflora invasiveness (Kittelson and Milton, 1997;Nieva et al, 2001;Castillo et al, 2010). Finally, the sterility of the hybrid S. densiflora × S. foliosa currently limits its invasiveness, but, once established, it has a high ability to maintain growth and biomass production with increasing levels of salinity and inundation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The number of live tillers was counted for each tussock at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Tiller relative growth rate (TGR, tillers tillers −1 year −1 ) was calculated as the difference between the number of final and initial tillers divided by the number of experiment days (Castillo et al, 2010). Tiller length was measured for five adult tillers of each tussock at the end of the experiment.…”

Section: Post-harvest Evaluationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of salinity and inundation on native Spartina foliosa, invasive S. densiflora and their hybrid from San Francisco Estuary, California

et al. 2019

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Background and Aims Sea Level Rise (SLR) associated with climate change is intensifying permanent submersion and salinity in salt marshes. In this scenario, hybridization between native and invasive species may result in hybrids having greater tolerance of abiotic stress factors than their parents. Thus, understanding the responses of native and invasive halophytes and their hybrids to interacting physiological stresses imposed by SLR is key to native species conservation. We analyzed how salinity, inundation depth, and their interaction impact the functional traits of native and invasive cordgrass species and their hybrid (Genus Spartina; Poaceae). Methods In a mesocosm experiment, we evaluated interactive stress effects of three inundation depths (4.5, 35.5 and 55 cm) and four aqueous salinities (0.5, 10, 20 and 40 ppt) on 27 functional traits of native Spartina foliosa, invasive S. densiflora and their hybrid S. densiflora x S. foliosa from San Francisco Estuary. Key Results The combined effect of salinity and inundation led to synergetic effects in leaf biochemical stress indicators. S. foliosa behaved as a stress-tolerant species, with high leaf Na exudation rate and glycinebetaine concentrations that also increased with stress. S. foliosa was less sensitive to salinity than S. densiflora and the hybrid but was highly growth-limited in response to increased inundation and salinity. S. densiflora was fast-growing in low stress conditions and tolerated moderate interactive stresses. The hybrid produced more biomass, rhizome reserves, and tillers than its parents, even under the most stressful conditions. Transgressivity improved the hybrid’s capacity to deal with flooding stress more so than its response to increasing salinity. Conclusions Based on our observations, we predict that established populations of both native and invasive cordgrasses will experience reduced vegetative and sexual fitness in response to SLR. In particular, the combined effects of high salinity and deep inundation may decrease floret production in S. densiflora, a key trait for the spread of its invasive populations. In contrast, the hybrid likely will be able to sustain its invasiveness with under SLR based on its ability to maintain growth and biomass production under stressful conditions.

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“…Based on their review, Castillo et al (2010) report the aboveground biomass of Spartina alterniflora in the range of 100e3700 g dry weight/m 2 . The values reported in our study area varied within the range from 304 to 1452 g dry weight/m 2 .…”

Section: Spatial Variations Of Salt Marsh Vegetation Cover Plant Heimentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of elevation, relative sea-level history and vegetation transition in determining carbon distribution in Spartina alterniflora dominated salt marshes

Kulawardhana

Feagin

Popescu

et al. 2015

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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Cordgrass Biomass in Salt Marshes

Cited by 5 publications

References 111 publications

Variation in tussock architecture of the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora along the Pacific Coast of North America

Variation in tussock architecture of the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora along the Pacific Coast of North America

Interactive effects of salinity and inundation on native Spartina foliosa, invasive S. densiflora and their hybrid from San Francisco Estuary, California

The role of elevation, relative sea-level history and vegetation transition in determining carbon distribution in Spartina alterniflora dominated salt marshes

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