Gulf ribbed mussels increase plant growth, primary production, and soil nitrogen cycling potential in salt marshes

Rossi, RE; Schutte, CA; Logarbo, J.; Bourgeois, C.; Roberts, BJ

doi:10.3354/meps14032

Gulf ribbed mussels increase plant growth, primary production, and soil nitrogen cycling potential in salt marshes

Journal Article · 12 May 2022 · Marine Ecology - Progress Series

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14032· OSTI ID:1983080

Rossi, RE ^[1]; Schutte, CA ^[2]; Logarbo, J. ^[3]; Bourgeois, C. ^[4]; Roberts, BJ ^[4]

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Chauvin, LA 70344, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Chauvin, LA 70344, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Chauvin, LA 70344, USA; School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Chauvin, LA 70344, USA

Smooth cordgrassSpartina alternifloraand Atlantic ribbed musselsGeukensia demissahave a mutualism wherebyS. alternifloraprovides substrate and shade forG. demissawhileG. demissaenhancesS. alternifloragrowth and drought tolerance. Together, these species improve salt marsh stability and function. To better understand if a similar relationship exists betweenS. alternifloraand Gulf ribbed musselsG. granosissimain salt marshes of the Gulf of Mexico, we conducted a manipulative experiment with identical starting plant density and varying densities ofG. granosissimaand monitored plant and soil responses over a growing season. We found thatS. alterniflorastem and leaf density was 1.5 and 1.9 times greater for the highest mussel biomass compared to the lowest mussel biomass treatments. Similarly, above- and below-ground biomass were 2.6 and 3.2 times greater for the highest mussel biomass compared to the lowest mussel biomass treatments. More and largerS. alternifloraat higherG. granosissimadensities resulted in 2 and 4 times theS. alternifloragross CO₂uptake and respiration rate, respectively. Methane fluxes were highest whenG. granosissimawere present, likely driven by the positive relationship between methane flux and belowground biomass. Net potential nitrification was 5 times higher for the highest mussel biomass compared to the lowest mussel biomass treatments, and denitrification rates were 1.8 times higher. Ultimately, our results suggest thatG.granosissimaincreasesS.alternifloragrowth and productivity, much like the positive relationship betweenG. demissaandS.alterniflora, which in turn influences salt marsh stability and function.

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

DOE Contract Number:: SC0014664

OSTI ID:: 1983080

Journal Information:: Marine Ecology - Progress Series, Vol. 689; ISSN 0171-8630

Publisher:: Inter-Research Science Publisher

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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