Mineral nutrition of sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense Crantz) in relation to nutrient supply

Macroinvertebrate and Fish Responses to Experimental P Additions in Everglades Sloughs

“…Indeed, numerous experiments have demonstrated the sensitivity of Everglades biota to P enrichment. In one of the first fertilization experiments, Steward and Ornes (1983) showed that small additions of P resulted in significant increases in the productivity of sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense Crantz.) seedlings, the most abundant macrophyte in the Everglades (Loveless 1959).…”

“…seedlings, the most abundant macrophyte in the Everglades (Loveless 1959). However, high levels of P actually inhibited sawgrass production (Steward and Ornes 1983). Ensuing field fertilization studies have shown that P enrichment can have profound effects on open-water slough communities, a unique and potentially critical habitat in the Everglades ecosystem (e.g., Loveless 1959).…”

Seed germination of two Everglades species, Cladium jamaicense and Typha domingensis

“…T. domingensis and C. jamaicense have a similar growth form and occupy similar habitats. However, C. jamaicense is adapted to low nutrient environments (Steward and Ornes, 1993;Newman et al, 1998) while Typha species are more common in nutrient-rich and disturbed habitats (Dykyjova and Kvet, 1978). Both the species form extensive monospecific stands and both reproduce by vegetative propagation from rhizomes and through seed dispersal.…”

Freshwater Marsh Community Structure in a Florida Everglades Mesocosm

“…Nondestructive sampling models to evaluate productivity (and validated with field data collected through destructive techniques in the northeast of Everglades National Park) showed total sawgrass biomass amounts and productivity in the range of previous studies (Daoust and Childers, 1999). Additionally, studies demonstrated increased aboveground and belowground biomass in conditions of nutrient enrichment for both sawgrass (Steward and Ornes, 1983) and cattail (Grace, 1988).…”