不同发育时间的互花米草盐沼对大型底栖动物群落的影响

2004-2006年对长江口崇明东滩湿地芦苇(Phragmites australis)盐沼和不同发育时间的互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)盐沼的大型底栖动物群落特征进行分析研究.结果表明:互花米草盐沼发育初期,大型底栖动物群落以腹足类为主,物种丰富度(D=2.18)和多样性(H′=2.19)均低于芦苇盐沼(D=2.61, H′=2.29);随着时间的推移,互花米草与本地生物逐渐形成互动和稳定的格局,大型底栖动物群落组成中多毛类的种类逐渐上升(由3种变为6种),物种数和物种丰富度也上升,从而逐步形成新的大型底栖动物群落,物种丰富度(D=2.70)和多样性(H′=2.48)逐渐上升并高于芦苇盐沼(D=2.19, H′=2.09);从大型底栖动物群落的重新形成到稳定阶段,需要若干年的时间.     

Spartina alterniflora invasion increases soil inorganic nitrogen pools through interactions with tidal subsidies in the Yangtze Estuary, China

Invasive alien plants increase both plant N and soil inorganic N pools in many terrestrial ecosystems. This is believed to be the result of altered plant-soil-microbe feedbacks that accelerate N cycling. However, it may also be due to the greater ability of invasive species to uptake lateral N subsidies that can modify ecosystem N dynamics. We conducted manipulative field experiments to determine the impact of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) invasion on the N cycling of salt marsh ecosystems in the Yangtze Estuary, China. The results showed that the aboveground plant N and soil inorganic N pools in S. alterniflora marshes, 14.39 and 3.16 g N m(-2), were significantly higher than those in native common reed (Phragmites australis) marshes, 11.61 and 2.29 g N m(-2). These increases after invasion were explained by a significantly higher uptake of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) from tidal subsidies in S. alterniflora marshes (6.59 g N m(-2)) than from those in P. australis marshes (1.61 g N m(-2)), and not by soil organic N mineralization, which was not significantly different between S. alterniflora (6.45 g N m(-2)) and P. australis marshes (6.84 g N m(-2)) during the growing season. Our study indicated that the ecosystem engineering effects of S. alterniflora, which increases the interception of external N input, can be an alternative mechanism that increases plant N and soil inorganic N pools--especially in ecosystems with ample anthropogenic N subsidies, such as the coastal wetlands of China.     

培养基质、储藏方式和盐度对三种海滨植物种子萌发的影响

研究了培养基质、储藏方式和盐度对3种海滨植物互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)、盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)和芦苇(Phragmites australis)种子萌发的影响,探索在潮间带环境下海滨植物种子萌发适应策略。结果表明:3种植物的干藏种子和湿藏芦苇种子随着盐度的升高,萌发率和萌发速率均显著下降,湿藏互花米草和盐地碱蓬种子在各盐度下萌发率和萌发速率差异不显著。各盐度-土培-干藏互花米草,中、高盐度-土培-干藏盐地碱蓬,土培各处理,中、高盐度-水培-干藏,高盐度-水培-湿藏芦苇种子萌发失败。湿藏提高了各盐度处理下土培互花米草,中、高盐度-水培和土培盐地碱蓬,淡水、中盐度-水培芦苇种子的萌发率和萌发速率。干藏互花米草种子在中、高盐度和土埋条件下种子的萌发受到抑制,限制了互花米草向高潮带与潮上带的扩展;而经常受潮水浸淹保持湿润的种子能抵抗高盐和泥沙沉积,导致互花米草种群逐步向低潮带方向发展;湿藏芦苇种子在淡水中萌发率和萌发速率最高,当潮上带盐度降低时,芦苇具有很强的竞争优势,但是对盐度和土埋敏感,限制了其向海的拓展;盐地碱蓬在中、高盐度和土培条件下萌发速率最高,快速萌发的适应策略和广适应性在盐地碱蓬占据高潮带和中潮带广大区域的过程中起到了重要的作用。     

基于CA模型的上海九段沙互花米草和芦苇种群扩散动态

基于1997年以来上海九段沙栽种芦苇和互花米草种群扩散格局的多年现场调查与遥感解译分析,并结合3S技术,构建了适合滩涂盐沼植物种群动态的元胞自动机（CA）模型．结果表明：该模型能较好地模拟九段沙上芦苇和互花米草种群扩散的格局和趋势,并验证了互花米草和芦苇的空间抢先占有模型以及锋面状连续扩散格局;土著植物芦苇与外来植物互花米草占据相同的生态位,而互花米草的种群扩散速度是芦苇的3—5倍,随着九段沙的不断淤涨,互花米草种群的快速扩展还将持续．构建的CA模型有助于深入研究外来物种扩散格局与其生态学过程之间的相互关系,对湿地生物多样性保护和资源管理具有重要意义．     

崇明东滩自然保护区盐沼植被的时空动态

盐沼植被是滩涂湿地的重要组成部分,其动态变化直接影响着湿地的生态服务功能和价值。通过对1998~2005年间4景不同时相的LandsatTM遥感影像的解译分析,结合历史资料数据和近年来的现场调查,分析了崇明东滩鸟类自然保护区自建立以来,盐沼植被的时空演替动态过程。结果显示,随着滩涂的淤涨,东滩盐沼植被的面积从1998年的2478.32hm2增加到2005年的4687.74hm2,而互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)自人为引入至2005年,其面积已增加到1283.4hm2,其增加速率显著高于土著种芦苇(Phragmites australis)和海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter),并且已在东滩保护区相当区域内形成单优势种群落。受1998年和2001年两次高滩围垦和互花米草入侵影响,崇明东滩的芦苇群落面积大大减少,虽随着滩涂的淤涨,芦苇群落的面积逐年有所增加,但增加的速度缓慢。互花米草有着更广的生态幅和竞争优势,是滩涂中扩散最快的植被,而淤涨型滩涂为其提供了可扩张的空生态位,如不加以控制和治理,其快速扩散将会对崇明东滩保护区的生态系统造成更大的威胁和影响。     

崇明东滩湿地高等植被演替特征

研究了崇明东滩湿地植被演替过程中生态特征以及重要值、地上部分生物量、植被地上部分氮含量以及氮容量的季节性变化.结果表明：随着高程的升高,演替早期的代表物种海三棱藨草（Scirpus mariqueter）的重要值逐渐减小,互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）和芦苇（Phragmites australis）的重要值增大.演替过程中植物的生物多样性逐渐增加.3种植物地上部分生物量在生长季节内（3—10月）均呈单峰变化,一般在夏季（7、8月）生物量最大.3种植物地上部分氮含量在生长季节内均呈降低趋势,氮容量在生长季节内呈单峰变化.估算每年崇明东滩保护区内芦苇地上部分蓄积的氮为383.4 t,互花米草为39.3 t,海三棱藨草为50.5 t.     

氮水平和竞争对互花米草与芦苇叶特征的影响

 互花米草 (Spartina alterniflora) 和芦苇 (Phragmites australis) 是滨海盐沼湿地的多年生草本植物,从世界范围来看,它们二者具有区域性的相互入侵特征,因此研究生境条件对两物种互侵机制的影响是一个十分有意义的生态学命题。该文运用随机区组实验设计方法,模拟海滩环境、构建人工种群、控制可变因子,研究了外来种互花米草与本地种芦苇分别单种和混种时,叶特征对不同氮水平、不同植株密度的响应。结果表明：随着氮水平的升高,互花米草和芦苇的叶面积无论是在单种还是混种情况下都显著增加 (p<0.05),但混种条件下芦苇的叶面积在高氮水平下增幅减少,这与高氮状况下互花米草与芦苇的竞争加剧有关;氮水平对单种中两种植物的叶数影响最显著 (p<0.01),对混种中互花米草的叶数和芦苇的叶宽影响最大 (p<0.05)。植株密度增加导致种内和种间竞争加剧,无论在单种还是混种处理下,都造成两种植物叶面积的显著减少 (p<0.05)。单种处理中, 两物种的叶数受密度的响应最显著 (p<0.05);而混种处理中芦苇对互花米草的竞争显著减小了互花米草的叶宽和叶数(p<0.05),互花米草对芦苇的竞争则显著减小了芦苇 的叶长、叶宽和叶数 (p<0.05)。两种植物的竞争结果受到氮营养的调控,低、高氮水平下互花米草的种间竞争能力大于芦苇,中氮水平下则是芦苇的种间竞争能力大于互花米草。高氮水平下互花米草通过叶面积的快速增加抑制了芦苇的叶生长,使其叶面积减少,从而在竞争中占据优势,这可能是互花米草入侵我国海滩芦苇种群的机制之一。     

三种盐胁迫对互花米草和芦苇光合作用的影响北大核心CSCD

互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)的入侵给海岸带盐沼生态系统的结构和功能带来了显著影响。互花米草盐沼中的硫含量高于附近的土著芦苇(Phragmites australis)盐沼。为探讨硫元素对互花米草和芦苇竞争过程的可能影响及其作用机制,以50mmol·L–1的Na2SO4和Na2S对互花米草和芦苇进行处理,分析处理前后5天内两种植物光合气体交换和叶绿素荧光指标变化的差异,实验另设等Na+浓度的Na Cl处理作为比较。研究发现:Na2S对互花米草和芦苇光合作用影响的差异最大,Na Cl次之,Na2SO4最小。Na2S处理后,互花米草净光合速率(Pn)出现显著上升,芦苇Pn值大幅度下降。互花米草的光饱和点(Isat)上升而芦苇的Isat值无变化。表明Na2S处理对互花米草的光合能力有促进作用,但对芦苇的光合能力有抑制作用。Na Cl处理后互花米草Pn值也出现小幅上升,而芦苇Pn值略有下降。Na2SO4处理对互花米草和芦苇的Pn值均无显著影响。除Na2SO4处理的互花米草外,不同盐处理后的互花米草和芦苇非光化学淬灭(NPQ)均出现上升趋势。研究结果表明互花米草对环境硫胁迫的适应能力显著高于芦苇,暗示盐沼高硫环境尤其是硫化物有助于互花米草相对于芦苇的竞争,也很可能是其形成单一植被的重要原因之一。     

盐度变化条件下芦苇对互花米草的化感效应

以芦苇凋落物为试材,采用溶液浸提法和厌氧腐解法,获得水提物和腐解产物两种浸提物母液;在5‰和10‰盐浓度下以两种浸提物母液和25%母液分别处理互花米草种子、刚萌发的幼苗以及互花米草滩涂中特有的互花米草益生菌,考察盐度变化对互花米草种子的萌发、幼苗生长以及菌落生长的影响.结果表明：盐处理能够显著促进互花米草种子的萌发、幼根以及互花米草益生菌的生长(P＜0.05).较高的盐浓度(10‰)下,芦苇水提物对互花米草的萌发、生长和互花米草益生菌的生长呈促进作用;当盐浓度降低至5‰时,该促进作用消失.在较低的盐浓度(5‰)下,芦苇腐解产物对互花米草萌发产生显著的抑制作用;在较高盐浓度(10‰)时,则对互花米草益生菌产生显著促进作用(P＜0.05);在试验的任一盐浓度下,芦苇腐解产物对互花米草幼苗和幼根的生长均存在显著的抑制效果(P＜0.05).     

Molecular phylogeny of hybridizing species from the genus Spartina Schreb. (Poaceae)

Interspecific hybridization events have been reported in the genus Spartina Schreb. (Poaceae), involving the east American species Spartina alterniflora, and including either introgression (e.g., with the western American Spartina foliosa) or allopolyploid speciation (e.g., with the Euro-African Spartina maritima). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus has been undertaken in order to understand phylogenetic relationships and genetic divergence among these hybridizing species. Twelve Spartina species have been sequenced for two nuclear DNA regions (ITS of ribosomal DNA, and part of the Waxy gene) and one chloroplast DNA spacer (trnT-trnL). Separate and conditional combined phylogenetic analyses using Cynodon dactylon as the outgroup have been conducted. Spartina is composed of two lineages. The first clade includes all hexaploid species: the Euro-African S. maritima (2n = 60), the East-American S. alterniflora (2n = 62) and the West-American S. foliosa (2n = 60). Spartina alterniflora appears as a closely related sister species to S. foliosa. Although belonging to the same lineage, Spartina maritima appears consistently more genetically differentiated from S. alterniflora than S. foliosa. The tetraploid species S. argentinensis (2n = 40) is placed at the base of this first clade according to the Waxy data, but its position is not well resolved by the other sequences. The second well-supported main lineage within genus Spartina includes the other tetraploid American species. Significant incongruence has been encountered between the waxy based tree and both the ITS and trnT-trnL trees concerning the position of S. densiflora, suggesting a possible reticulate evolution for this species. The results agree with hybridization patterns occurring in Spartina: introgression involving closely related species (S. alterniflora and S. foliosa) on one hand, and alloploid speciation involving more differentiated species (S. alterniflora and S. maritima) on the other hand.     

Hybridization between introduced smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora; Poaceae) and native California cordgrass (S. foliosa) in San Francisco Bay, California, USA

Introduced Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) is rapidly invading intertidal mudflats in San Francisco Bay, California. At several sites, S. alterniflora co-occurs with native S. foliosa (California cordgrass), a species endemic to California salt marshes. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPDs) specific to each Spartina species were identified and used to test for hybridization between the native and introduced Spartina species in the greenhouse and in the field. Greenhouse crosses were made using S. alterniflora as the pollen donor and S. foliosa as the maternal plant, and these crosses produced viable seeds. The hybrid status of the crossed offspring was confirmed with the RAPD markers. Hybrids had low self-fertility but high fertility when back-crossed with S. foliosa pollen. Hybrids were also found established at two field sites in San Francisco Bay; these hybrids appeared vigorous and morphologically intermediate between the parental species. Field observations suggested that hybrids were recruiting more rapidly than the native S. foliosa. Previous work identified competition from introduced S. alterniflora as a threat to native S. foliosa. In this study, we identify introgression and the spread of hybrids as an additional, perhaps even more serious threat to conservation of S. foliosa in San Francisco Bay.     

Genetic modification of wetland grasses for phytoremediation

Wetland grasses and grass-like monocots are very important natural remediators of pollutants. Their genetic improvement is an important task because introduction of key transgenes can dramatically improve their remediation potential. Tissue culture is prerequisite for genetic manipulation, and methods are reported here for in vitro culture and micropropagation of a number of wetland plants of various ecological requirements such as salt marsh, brackish water, riverbanks, and various zones of lakes and ponds, and bogs. The monocots represent numerous genera in various families such as Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, and Typhaceae. The reported species are in various stages of micropropagation and Arundo donax is scaled for mass propagation for selecting elite lines for pytoremediation. Transfer of key genes for mercury phytoremediation into the salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is also reported here. All but one transgenic lines contained both the organomercurial lyase (merB) and mercuric reductase (merA) sequences showing that co-introduction into Spartina of two genes from separate Agrobacterium strains is possible.     

Effect of oxygen availability and salinity on EARLY LIFE HISTORY STAGES OF SALT MARSH PLANTS. I. Different germination strategies of Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis (Poaceae)

Gradients in oxygen availability and salinity are among the most important environmental parameters influencing zonation in salt marsh communities. The combined effects of oxygen and salinity on the germination of two salt marsh grasses, Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis, were studied in growth chamber experiments. Germination of both species was initiated by emergence of the shoot and completed by root emergence. Percentage S. alterniflora germination was reduced at high salinity (40 g NaCl/L) and in decreased oxygen (5 and 2.5%). In 0% oxygen shoots emerged, but roots did not. P. australis germination was reduced at a lower salinity (25 g NaCl/L) than S. alterniflora, and inhibited at 40 g NaCl/L and in anoxia. However, a combination of hypoxia (10 and 5% O2) and moderate salinity (5 and 10 g NaCl/L) increased P. australis germination. When bare areas in the salt marsh are colonized, the different germination responses of these two species to combinations of oxygen and salt concentrations are important in establishing their initial zonation. In high salinity wetlands S. alterniflora populates the lower marsh and P. australis occupies the high marsh at the upland boundary.     

互花米草与芦苇光合色素含量对淹水措施的响应

以上海崇明东滩入侵植物互花米草与本地种芦苇为研究对象,研究持续淹水胁迫对两种植物光合色素含量的影响.结果表明：互花米草与芦苇叶片的光合色素基本组成与含量不同,对持续淹水的响应也不同.在持续淹水胁迫下,互花米草叶绿素a、叶绿素b及类胡萝卜素含量降低,叶绿素a／b、类胡萝卜素／叶绿素值提高;芦苇各色素含量升高,叶绿素a／b、类胡萝卜素/叶绿素值基本保持稳定.解除持续淹水胁迫后,互花米草各色素含量逐渐升高,叶绿素a／b、类胡萝卜素／叶绿素值降低,并逐渐接近对照水平;而芦苇各色素含量显著高于对照.两种植物均表现出一定的补偿效应,但芦苇比互花米草更能适应同等程度的持续淹水胁迫.应用持续淹水措施治理互花米草时,可采用本地种芦苇作为治理后湿地恢复的替代植物.     

芦苇与入侵植物互花米草的光合特性比较

以上海崇明东滩湿地外来入侵植物互花米草与本地种芦苇为研究对象,对它们的光合特性进行了比较研究,结果表明:(1)与芦苇相比,互花米草具有更高的表观量子效率(AQY)、CO2羟化效率(CE)和最大净光合速率(pmax);(2)生长季节初期,互花米草午间时段的光合、气孔导度和蒸腾速率均高于芦苇,各指标与光、温的变化基本一致;(3)互花米草的净光合速率曲线呈“单峰”型,测定指标在强光合辐射、高温条件下迅速上升,芦苇则表现出明显的“午休”现象;(4)在生长季节初期(5月份)和活跃期(9月份),互花米草的净光合速率显著高于芦苇,而在生长季节后期(11月份)则低于芦苇。该项研究有利于解释互花米草生长迅速,生产力高,竞争性强的生理生态学特性。     

氮、硫互作对克隆植物互花米草繁殖和生物量累积与分配的影响

氮、硫均是影响入侵植物互花米草（Spartina alterniflora Loisel.）生长与繁殖的重要营养元素,研究其交互作用可能有助于揭示互花米草成功入侵机制。本文在人工控制条件下,以河沙为栽培基质,研究了氮、硫互作对互花米草繁殖和生物量积累与分配的影响。实验结果表明：中氮和高氮处理下的互花米草分支强度、初级分株数、次级分株数、根状茎数及其总长要显著高于低氮,不同硫水平及氮硫互作对互花米草无性繁殖没有显著影响;互花米草的种子数和种子生物量受硫以及氮硫交互作用的影响显著,在高氮水平下,中硫处理的互花米草种子数和种子生物量要远远高于其他处理。中氮和高氮处理下的互花米草叶、茎、根、根状茎和总生物量显著高于低氮处理;只有在高氮水平下,高硫处理的生物量才显著低于其他处理。在中氮和高氮营养条件下,高硫处理会促使互花米草对地上部分投入更多的生物量。中硫-高氮作用对互花米草有性繁殖的促进,使互花米草能在硫浓度较高的滩地保持高有性繁殖率;虽然过高的硫会抑制互花米草的有性繁殖,但却能促进根状茎数目的增加,从而加速其向外短距离扩张;这些特性均有利于互花米草对滨海盐沼的入侵。     

互花米草黄酮含量分析及其生态学意义

互花米草原产于北美洲大西洋沿岸和墨西哥海湾,经引种和其他原因,已扩散到包括中国在内的多个国家和地区,并对被入侵地生态系统的结构和功能均造成了显著影响。有关该物种的入侵机制和控制策略是当前入侵生态学研究领域的热点。互花米草生物质材料中富含黄酮类物质,与该物种向海扩张的能力可能存在一定联系。鉴于黄酮广泛的应用价值,能否借助黄酮成分的开发带动生物质的收割,以达到有效控制该物种的目的,也是当前研究者所关注的问题。以芦丁为标准参照物,NaNO2-Al（ NO3）3法比较温室互花米草不同器官中总黄酮含量的差异,分析盐城滩涂互花米草越冬芽黄酮含量与所在地理位置之间的关系,采用L9（34）正交试验对干储互花米草叶总黄酮的提取工艺进行优化。互花米草叶片中黄酮类物质远高于根、根状茎、茎、叶鞘、颖稃及种子。盐城滩涂上互花米草越冬芽的黄酮含量随着由陆向海方向基本呈升高趋势。互花米草总黄酮最佳提取工艺为料液比1∶30,乙醇浓度70％,水浴温度80℃,水浴时间2h。互花米草植物材料中,尤其在叶部,黄酮含量十分丰富。该黄酮物质与互花米草在海岸带盐沼生态系统中的适应和向海扩张也存在正相关关系,可作为探索互花米草入侵机制的一个方向。利用本研究中所得优化提取工艺可从互花米草干储生物质中获得稳定的黄酮来源。配合黄酮经济成分的开发而推动生物质材料的收割利用,将成为互花米草生态控制的一项潜在策略。     

崇明东滩湿地芦苇和互花米草N、P利用策略的生态化学计量学分析

测定了崇明东滩湿地典型植物群落内芦苇和互花米草各器官及土壤中的N、P含量和N∶P,揭示了它们的季节性动态,并对其N、P利用对策进行了生态化学计量学分析.结果表明:两种植物的N、P含量差异显著且芦苇＞互花米草;不同植物以及同一植物不同器官的N、P含量随生长节律发生明显变化;N、P含量的器官分配模式对于芦苇和互花米草均是叶＞茎＞根;两种植物地上部分和地下部分N、P含量5月＞9月＞7月;芦苇N、P积累量＞互花米草;2种植物地上部分N、P含量差异显著;互花米草生境土壤各月份N含量均高于芦苇生境土壤;P含量仅在5月份高于芦苇生境土壤,其它月份均低于芦苇生境土壤.芦苇叶片N含量与生境土壤N含量相关不显著,叶片P含量与土壤P含量显著正相关;互花米草叶片N含量与土壤N含量极显著正相关,叶片P含量与土壤P含量相关不显著.芦苇和互花米草叶片N∶P与土壤N、P含量及N∶P间相关均不显著.芦苇在生长初期和生长末期的N∶P＜14,表明其生长受到N限制;处于生长旺季时,14＜N∶P＜16,表明其受到N、P共同限制.互花米草在各月份的N∶P＜14,说明其主要受到N限制.总体而言,N素是芦苇和互花米草净初级生产力的主要而经常性的限制因子.     

Habitat size, flora, and fauna: Interactions in a tidal saltwater marsh

Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation is increasingly problematic in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Fragmentation reduces the size of habitat patches, so examining the effect of patch size on community structure can provide insight into the potential effects of fragmentation. In this study, we examined the effect of habitat size on the density of Spartina alterniflora shoots in tidal saltwater marshes, as well as on the two predominant macrofaunal species, the marsh periwinkle Littoraria irrorata and fiddler crabs Uca spp. We estimated the density of shoots in three different marsh habitats, (1) large island marshes, (2) small island marshes, and (3) large fringing marshes, in Indian Field Creek, York River, Chesapeake Bay. We manipulated shoot density in each of the marsh types to distinguish between the effects of marsh grass density and marsh type on crab and Littoraria densities in the system. We found significant differences in grass density among the three marsh types as well as significant species-specific effects of grass density, marsh type, and distance from edge on faunal abundance. Decreasing the shoot density resulted in a decrease in Littoraria density in the large marshes. Littoraria density increased with distance from edge in the small marshes and in the first 5 m of the fringing marshes, then decreased with distance from edge after 5 m in the fringing marshes. Shoot density had a negative effect on crabs in both the large and small marshes. These results suggest that fragmentation would have a negative effect on the community structure by lowering the densities of both the flora and fauna.     

Nutrients, competition and plant zonation in a New England salt marsh

1 We examined the effects of nutrient availability on the competitive interactions of the New England salt marsh perennials that occupy discrete vegetational zones parallel to the shoreline.
2 Fertilized and unfertilized plots of pair-wise mixtures and monocultures of Spartina alterniflora, S. patens and Juncus gerardi were compared in order to assess the effects of nutrient addition on the competitive dynamics of these species in the field. In addition, we examined competition between some of these species and Distichlis spicata , a species common to disturbed marsh habitats.
3 After two growing seasons, changes in above-ground biomass of the species indicated that in fertilized plots, S. alterniflora outcompeted S. patens, S. patens outcompeted J. gerardi, and D. spicata outcompeted both J. gerardi and S. patens. This was the reverse of the interactions seen under ambient marsh conditions, and suggested that, under conditions of nutrient limitation, competitive dominance may result from efficient competition for nutrients.
4 Using a conceptual model of salt marsh zonation as a function of competition, physical stress and nutrient limitation, we hypothesize that a nutrient-induced reversal in the competitive dynamics among salt marsh perennials may result in modification of the pattern of plant zonation in this and similar marshes.