Distribution patterns of salt marsh vegetation on Parramore Island, Virginia Coast Reserve
- Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States). Dept. of Environmental Sciences
The Virginia Coast Reserve is a classic example of an estuarine-barrier island complex, and is dominated physiographically by tidal salt marshes. Marsh vegetation includes Spartina alterniflora and patens, Juncus romerianus, Disticlis spicata and Salicornia virginica; these species occur in a random mosaic pattern throughout the salt marsh. Previous work has shown that porewater salinity and flooding frequency control plant distributions at a gross scale (daily tidal inundation versus occasional flooding), but variations in these parameters are extremely subtle in the Parramore marshes. The goal of this research is to document and monitor small-scale physical factors that control spatial distribution of marsh species. The results of this study have serious implications for development of artificial wetlands. Topographic variations on the order of < 10 cm are significant in determining both flooding history and water table salinity, and therefore affect the colonization and growth of marsh plant species dramatically.
- OSTI ID:
- 6905178
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9404221--
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Vol. 26:4; ISSN GAAPBC; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540210 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
GROWTH
MARSHES
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECIES DIVERSITY
USA
VIRGINIA
WETLANDS