Nutrient dynamics and seasonal marsh growth were examined in a newly formed Panicum virgatum floating marsh at Thibodaux LA. The floating marsh formed in a cleared area of forested wetland receiving secondarily treated effluent. Net Areal Primary Productivity (NAPP), total belowground biomass, NO<sub>3</sub>, and δ<sup>15</sup>N ratios varied significantly (P <0.05) along a 75m marsh transect while mean δ<sup>13</sup>C varied between plant species. The upland end of the transect had the highest NAPP (3876 g m<sup>-2</sup>y<sup>-1</sup>), total belowground biomass (4079.0 ± 298.5 g m<sup>-2</sup>), and mean NO<sub>3</sub> (5.4 ± 2.9 mg l<sup>-1</sup>). The mean floating-marsh δ<sup>15</sup>N of H. umbellata was less enriched at 0-75 m (9.69 ± 1.9) compared to 100-200 m (20.99 ± 3.8). The δ<sup>13</sup>C of the belowground peat mat of the floating marsh was similar to P. virgatum but not H. umbellata, indicating that P. virgatum was forming the mat. There was a significant decrease in NAPP, total belowground biomass, NO<sub>3</sub> and δ<sup>15</sup>N enrichment across the 75 m transect. Nutrient availability affected NAPP and δ<sup>15</sup>N. Floating marsh NAPP in the 0-45 m was greater than most reported values for floating marsh. These results suggest that nutreint rich freshwater can promote restoration of floating marshes.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LSU/oai:etd.lsu.edu:etd-11082007-155709 |
| Date | 12 November 2007 |
| Creators | Izdepski, Caleb W. |
| Contributors | Charles E. Sasser, Richard Keim, John W. Day, Jr. |
| Publisher | LSU |
| Source Sets | Louisiana State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-11082007-155709/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached herein a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to LSU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below and in appropriate University policies, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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