ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF DEPOSITS ON THE ROOTS OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA LOISEL.

Spartina alterniflora, salt marsh cordgrass, is the dominant angiosperm of a large majority of regularly flooded marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. In Louisiana, this species often occurs in two distinct zones: a more productive streamside site (adjacent to tidal creeks), and a less productive and sparsely populated inland area. Reddish-brown deposits are present on the roots of streamside Spartina and visually absent from the roots of inland plants. A study of streamside roots using scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis demonstrated that the coatings are restricted to the outer cell wall of the epidermis and are composed primarily of iron. Roots of inland plants have minor iron deposits. Citrate-dithionite extraction of the coatings and subsequent atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis confirmed these deposits to be iron, although some manganese was present. Approximately 50 times more iron was found on streamside roots compared to roots from inland plants. These results indicate a better developed oxidized rhizosphere associated with streamside Spartina roots than the inland and, hence, the potential for a more favorable environment in which nutrient uptake may proceed.     

A GROWTH COMPARISON OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA LOISEL. ECOPHENES UNDER AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

Spartina alterniflora Loisel. culms were collected from tall (creekbank), short (highmarsh) and dieback sites in a North Carolina salt marsh and grown in aerobic and anaerobic simulated marsh systems in the greenhouse. There were no significant differences between density, aerial live biomass, height, leaf width or root biomass and sprig source. All variables were significantly different between aeration treatments. Aerated systems had an average of 6.3 times more biomass than the unaerated treatments. There was a significant interaction between sprig source and aeration treatments based on a multivariate analysis of variance representing overall plant performance. These results demonstrated that pioneer sprigs from the dieback sites had an advantage over the other sprigs when exposed to unaerated systems. Tall plants performed better than plants from short or dieback zones in the aerobic systems.     

SEASONAL PATTERNS IN RECOVERABLE UNDERGROUND RESERVES IN SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA LOISEL.

Seasonal differences in recoverable underground reserves in stands of Spartina alterniflora Loisel. were measured in Georgia and Delaware. They indicate that by winter substantial reserves are stored in both northern and southern marshes. Cycles of the quantity of stored reserves have greater amplitudes than cycles of the concentration of storage compounds reported in the literature. Maximum concentrations apparently occur at the same time as maximum storage tissue volumes. Seasonal measurements and defoliation studies in Delaware indicate that reserves are nearly exhausted by spring growth and that at least ⅓ are not replenished until after seed filling in the fall. This pattern of nearly complete utilization of reserves in spring with late fall replenishment may have an advantage for herbaceous perennial plants which are part of detritus based food webs. A cycle where substantial reserves are retained for canopy regeneration after early summer defoliation would be advantageous where a grazing web was dominant.     

INFLUENCE OF SEED SOURCE UPON PHENOLOGY OF FLOWERING OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA LOISEL. AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF CROSS POLLINATION

Seedlings of Spartina alterniflora Loisel., from seed harvested from nine marshes ranging from Maine to Virginia, were grown for three seasons in plots established on two different soils in Delaware and were flooded regularly with water from two estuarine sources. Substantial differences in the time of flowering were observed. Each year plants from Maine seed flowered first and were followed by those from Connecticut and New York. Last to flower were plants from Virginia seed. The latter initiated flowering after flowering of the Maine source had been completed. These two would not cross-pollinate under this circumstance. The phenology of anthesis and number of seeds set on inflorescences enclosed in bags indicate that this species is largely open pollinated.     

RHIZOME AND ROOT GROWTH RATES AND CYCLES IN PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATE CONCENTRATIONS IN GEORGIA SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA LOISEL. PLANTS

Root and rhizome growth and composition were measured in a Georgia salt marsh. Root growth was less seasonal than rhizome growth; none of the latter occurred during the first quarter of the year. The depth of underground growth shifted downward during the fall. Sugar and starch concentrations were relatively low in roots throughout the year. They remained relatively high in the rhizomes, but varied in distribution depending on the season.     

EFFECT OF AN AMMONIUM NITRATE PULSE ON THE GROWTH AND ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF NATURAL STANDS OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA AND JUNCUS ROEMERIANUS

A nitrogen (ammonium nitrate) pulse of 200 kg ha“¹ was added to stands of tall (1.0–1.5 m) Spartina alterniflora, short (< 0.5 m) Spartina alterniflora, and Juncus roemerianus in a Georgia salt marsh in July. The major response ten weeks later was an increase in the aerial biomass and a sharp reduction in the C/N ratio in short Spartina alterniflora. One year after the treatment the difference between the biomass in enriched and control plots was greater than ten weeks after treatment, but the C/N ratio in the plants in the treated plots had risen to that of the controls. The availability of nitrogen appears to limit growth in the middle elevation Georgia salt marsh (short S. alterniflora), but not in the lower (tall S. alterniflora) or higher (J. roemerianus) portions.     

互花米草幼苗在不同浓度NaCl溶液中的生长和溶质的积累

互花米草在NaCl营养液中能够大量积累Na~+和Cl~-,并对K~+、可溶性糖和游离脯氨酸的积累也有一定的促进作用,同时抑制了Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)和Pi的吸收。幼苗积累Na~+和Cl~-作为主要渗透剂。Na~+/K~+比值随着培养基NaCl浓度增大而提高。根部无机离子的总量明显高于地上部。NaCl明显降低幼苗地上部的渗透势,其变化随培养基渗透势的下降而降低。在NaCl营养液中培养的幼苗鲜重和含水置下降,但对于重影响不大,鲜重/干重比值随培养基NaCl浓度增大而降低。     

互花米草、狐米草和大绳草茎秆的比较解剖观察

互花米草、狐米草和大绳草的表皮均由长细胞、短细胞(栓质细胞和硅质细胞)、盐腺和气孔器组成。它们成纵行交互排列。盐腺的结构与大米草相似,但三个种的盐腺和气孔器的数目不同,尤其以大绳草最多。它们的内部结构是由气道、不同大小的维管束、基本组织以及厚壁组织组成。然而,维管束的数目及厚壁组织的发育各不相同。狐米草和大绳草有高度木质化的厚壁组织细胞,而互花米草的厚壁组织木质化较弱。大绳草的维管束多于其他两种。     

SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF THE DOMINANT SALT MARSH GRASS SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA IN AN OIL INDUSTRY SALINE WASTEWATER

Saline oil produced water (PW) is the largest wastewater stream in the oil exploration and production processes. Although eventual disposal of PW into shallow coastal waters occurs nearby coastal wetlands, no studies regarding its toxicity to higher plants were found in our literature review. To fill this knowledge gap and evaluate the potential use of this halophyte for PW phytoremediation the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora was grown in five PW concentrations and no PW treatment control for seven weeks. The oil & grease, NaCl, and ammonium (N-NH4⁺) concentrations in the PW were 120 mg L^?1, 30 g L^?1, and 381 mg L^?1, respectively. Plants grown in 30% PW and 10% PW achieved survival rates (75%) significantly higher than plants grown in 100% PW (35% survival). LT50 of S. alterniflora to raw PW with 120 mg L^?1 of oil & grease (100% PW) was estimated at 30 days. Root and sprout biomass were significantly stimulated by PW; plants grown in 10% to 50% PW concentrations were 70–300% more productive than those in control, 80% PW and 100% PW, respectively. No significant inhibitory effects on survival or growth were detected for concentrations of PW less than 80% when compared to control. Our results pointed out that S. alterniflora grows in saline oil PW and its potential use to phytoremediate this effluent should be evaluated.     

淡咸水轮换浇灌抑制互花米草的克隆生长和繁殖

作为典型的盐沼植物,入侵种互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)具有较强的耐盐性,能否以淡水或淡咸水的轮换浇灌扰乱其耐盐机制,降低其生态入侵性,进而寻求其控制对策是一个重要命题。为此,对互花米草进行了6种浇灌处理:单一的淡水(D)或咸水(X)浇灌;1次浇灌转换,即先淡水后咸水(DX)或先咸水后淡水(XD);2次浇灌转换,即由淡水开始转而咸水,再转而淡水(DXD),或由咸水开始转而淡水,再转而咸水(XDX)。结果显示,D处理的总生物量最高,与其它各处理均差异显著(p<0.05),且是X处理的1.67倍;DXD和XDX处理的总生物量最低,与D和X处理的差异显著(p<0.05),两者均约为D处理的50%。浇灌处理对根冠比、茎重比、叶重比和根茎重比的影响不明显,对根重比有较大影响,X处理的根重比最高,与D处理的差异显著(p<0.05),但与DX、XD、DXD和XDX处理之间的差异不显著。D处理的克隆生长新生总株数(Propagule)最多,与其它处理均差异显著(p<0.05),且是X处理的1.34倍;DXD和XDX处理的新生总株数最少,与D和X处理的差异显著(p<0.05),仅为D处理的55%。浇灌处理对分蘖的影响明显,DX和DXD处理的分蘖数分别是D处理的62%和50%;XD和XDX处理的分蘖数分别是X处理的50%和47%。就开花株数而言,X处理显著高于其它处理(p<0.05);DXD和XDX处理的开花株数为0。因此,持续的淡水浇灌可能会促进互花米草的生物量积累,并且采取快速的克隆生长为主的繁殖策略;而在淡水和咸水交替的生境下,互花米草的生物量积累、无性和有性繁殖能力都会受到抑制。     

TILLERING AND MORTALITY OF THE SALT MARSH CORDGRASS,SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA

Recruitment and mortality of Spartina alterniflora tillers and culms were estimated from measurements of live standing crops at Wallops Island, Virginia. Stands of tall and medium form grass produced from 452 to 1,227 tillers m⁻² yr⁻¹. Those tillered in spring lengthened into culms their first year, while those tillered in late summer and fall may have overwintered and lengthened into culms their second year. Biennial growth was most prevalent in tall form Spartina. Fifty-six to sixty-one percent of all tillers died before lengthening into culms. Of the remainder, 9 to 56% died as culms before the time of flowering. Sixty-three percent of the surviving culms of tall form Spartina flowered, compared to only 14 to 23% in medium form. Mortality of tillers and culms removed 16 to 35% of the annual production of Spartina biomass from live standing crops before the time of flowering.     

EFFECTS OF O2 ON AMMONIUM UPTAKE AND ROOT RESPIRATION BY SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA

Previously the growth of Spartina alterniflora has been found to be limited by nitrogen and correlated with sediment redox potential. In this study we have investigated a possible connection between these two factors. We have found that internal O₂ transport is insufficient to saturate NH₄⁺ uptake in short S. alterniflora in hydroponic culture. Rates of NH₄⁺ uptake and root respiration were very sensitive to O₂ concentration in the rhizosphere, saturating at about 5% O₂. Ammonium uptake continued at a reduced rate for at least 4 hr under anaerobic conditions. Plant to plant variations in anaerobic rates of NH₄⁺ uptake and root respiration were significantly correlated to the diffusion rate of CH₄ tracer gas from the leaves to the roots of individual plants.     

DECOMPOSITION DYNAMICS OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA AND SPARTINA PATENS IN A NEW JERSEY SALT MARSH

Decomposition dynamics of two salt marsh species, Spartina alterniflora tall (SAT) form and Spartina patens (SP), were investigated at Mud Cove, near Manahawkin, Ocean County, New Jersey. Decomposition rates were determined monthly over 371 days by measuring the amount of material lost from plastic net litter bags. Litter bags containing SP material were placed in both SP and SAT vegetation zones; litter bags containing SAT material were also placed in both of these zones. The material was analyzed for ash content, total carbon, Kjeldahl nitrogen, caloric content, fat, and crude fiber. Final weight loss values were as follows: SAT in SAT zone 72.4%, SP in SAT zone 56.9%, SAT in SP zone 46.7%, and SP in SP zone 26.4%. When SAT and SP material were placed in the same location (SAT or SP sites), the SAT material decomposed at a greater rate. If the same vegetation type (SAT or SP) were placed in both SAT and SP locations, the material at the SAT location decomposed at a greater rate than similar material in the SP location. The results indicate that while environmental characteristics (e.g., flooding) at a site influence the rate at which these two species will decompose, Spartina patens is inherently more resistant to decomposition.     

互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)草场土壤微生物生态分布及某些酶活性的研究

种植互花米草的盐沼土中,细菌、放线菌和真菌的数量比对照盐沼土中多。就不同深度来说,15—30厘米土层中,细菌数最多。细菌总数的增减趋势是:夏秋两季最多,冬春两季较少。在各生理类群中,氨化细菌占优势;固氮细菌、硝化细菌次之;反硝化细菌和硫酸盆还原细菌最少。内源呼吸作用强度、添加葡萄糖后的呼吸作用强度、氧化丙酮酸的能力和氧化多酚化合物的能力皆显示出同样的趋势,即三年生草场土壤中生物活性最强,光滩土壤中生物活性最弱。在光滩土壤中,脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性很低,而种植互花米草的土壤中这两种酶活性较强,但与种植年限和季节变化无显著相关性。